Forum for European Journalism Students Congress

Deadline: 24 February 2013
Open to: European students of journalism, media and communication, as well as young professionals
Venue: 25-30 April 2013 in Utrecht, the Netherlands

Description

The Forum for European Journalism Students, together with partners Evens Foundation and Café Babel, kindly invite you to the 2013 Annual Congress (AC) in Utrecht, the Netherlands, which will take place from the 25th to the 30th of April 2013.

Costs

According to the decision of the FEJS General Assembly 2008, the participation fee for the event is 130 Euro. The fee covers food and lodging expenses, as well as the activities during the congress. A part of the amount of the participation fee is also a contribution to the FEJS Solidarity Fund.

Every participant has to pay for his or her travel expenses. The participation fee doesn’t cover your transport to or from Utrecht. If you have financial difficulties, you may apply for the financial support from the Solidarity Fund (SF). FEJS may grant you support up to seventy percent of your travel costs. Detailed information about the Solidarity Fund can be obtained from the Secretariat (fejssec@gmail.com). The deadline: 24th February 2012. After that date no applications for the SF will be considered valid.

The event is aimed at European students of journalism, media and communication, as well as young professionals. The purpose of FEJS is to create a network for young journalists, to educate journalists, to spread knowledge about the different European cultures and to give the participants both a personal and professional experience.

The topic of this year’s AC is ‘Imagine Europe: The remainder of the European Dream beyond the economic markets – is there a European society of culture, values, narratives and solidarity?’ The Dutch Organising Committee (OC) wants to portray a broad picture of the non‐economic Europe. Now that Barroso, Verhofstadt and Van Rompuy are daydreaming out loud about a European federation, they want to offer the young journalists sufficient and in‐depth insights into that other Europe, the one of the narratives and diversity. They have invited about 20 Dutch and international high profiled speakers, to give lectures and workshops and to participate in debates and a panel discussion. Subjects which they will discuss are, among others:

• Until where do the borders of Eastern Europe reach in terms of culture, geography, religion, linguistics and political values?
• Does a common European culture actually exist or is there even a creatable esprit européen, and if not, is that amiss?
• Should Europe have its own army, be upfront globally in terms of environment policy or human rights, by means of soft power?
• What does the art of painting tell us about Europe?
• What is the status of active European citizenship?

Programme

Thursday is the day of arrival and in the evening there will be the traditional presentation of the countries’ delegations. On Friday, Evens Foundation, the OC and the board of FEJS will present themselves, followed by a series of lectures, a poetic intermezzo and a tour through Utrecht. On Saturday, there will be a main lecture by an international guest, and the group will be split up for five workshops:

• Photo journalism – Get involved in the techniques and theories of photo reportages and experience it yourself later on, guided by a professional photographer. A camera of your own is required.
• European arts – Learn about the European arts from an art historian and critic, and use his opinions and views for your own essay in one of the main museums in Amsterdam.
• Blogging for Café Babel – If there’s one website that knows all about Europe and its languages, it is Café Babel. Two of their editors will train you in the art of blogging, and you will write a piece of your own – a selection will be published. Most probably supported by Monica Sassatelli, writer about European narratives.
• Debate and speech training – A speech and debate expert will train you in the morning in the techniques and theories of his profession, and after some exercises, the group will split up into a debate and a speech group. The topics will be current European affairs, and the debate final will be held the next day, in front of all the attendants, and the winning speech will be performed again as well.
• Investigative journalism and storytelling – Journalists and experts will show different investigation techniques like searching databases, searching archives and using social media. And how do make such a tough article readable? By using storytelling.

Sunday brings one panel discussion, with academics and politicians, followed by another series of lectures and a cultural happening.
On Monday, they will head towards Amsterdam for an excursion, with many options; visiting NRC Handelsblad, the European Cultural Foundation, the museums, the concert hall, etc. Tuesday might be the day of departure, but they highly recommend you to stay for another day at your own cost to experience the holiday of Queensday.

Eligibility

The congress is aimed at European students of journalism, media and communication, as well as young professionals.

Application

The application form is AVAILABLE HERE. All application forms must be filled in online before 24 February 2013. All applications that are received after the deadline will go directly to the waiting list. Up to 100 participants will be accepted to the AC 2013.

The selection of applicants will be complete by 27th of February 2013. On that date you will know if you have been accepted to the AC 2013 and if you have applied for it, you will receive confirmation regarding your application for the Solidarity Fund. All the other applicants will go through to the waiting list and will be invited to the Congress only if a participant cancels or he or she doesn’t secure his or her place by paying the 40 Euro in advance.

For more information see the original call for applications HERE or visit the FEJS Facebook site HERE. Contact the organizers at fejssec@gmail.com with your questions.