Biggest European Young Journalism Event Takes Place in the UK This Spring

In April this year the Forum for European Journalism Students will stage its annual congress at the University of Lincoln’s Brayford campus.

Journalists from across the continent will arrive in the city to discuss multi-platform media and the influence on journalism of emerging technologies and modes of communication.

The role of blogging, podcasting, video journalism and social networking sites – and their role in the future of the industry – will be up for debate.
Representatives from the BBC, Press Association, Northcliffe Newspapers and BT – as pioneers of these communication channels – will be among the notable names holding debates and workshops during the conference. Sponsors include the European Union and Coca Cola.

Over five days, more than 100 young journalists from almost 30 different countries will visit Lincoln to learn more about multi-platform media and take back basic skills to their own places of work.
The FEJS has existed since 1986, but its yearly meeting has never been to the UK before.

The organisation’s 24th Annual Congress will take place at the University of Lincoln, UK, from 2 to 7 April 2009.
The event is being organised by Gina Davies, a third-year Journalism student at the University of Lincoln.

Gina said: “Since I got involved in the FEJS in 2007 I have visited some fantastic countries with the organisation – from Belgium to Croatia and even the Swiss Alps. The FEJS has been going since 1986 but until recently, the UK had never been involved before. Now young journalists from 27 different countries will be coming to Lincoln. It will make the city for the capital for European journalism in the UK, which should be great for tourism and the economy.”

The conference website www.fejs.co.uk was launched in December 2008 and had more than 1,200 hits in a month.

There are opportunities for companies in the region to sponsor the event. Firms which could offer gratis or discounted services or products such as stationery, catering, transport or accommodation are also invited to get in touch.