European journalists unite at Berlin Wall anniversary

As the world’s media descends on Berlin this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Thomson Foundation is in the German capital to welcome 80 of the brightest and best journalists from the former Soviet Union

During the four-day conference, hosted by the Foundation’s European Neighborhood Journalism Network, journalists, trainers and free-media champions will explore the changing face of the media in Eastern Europe over the last twenty years, and the supporting role of institutions like the EU.

Most of the reporters heading for Berlin have been active in the ENJN over the last year, filming and reporting from Kosovo, Algeria, Brussels and elsewhere. Berlin provides a chance for them to meet, some for the first time, and help map out the network’s future.

During the final two days of the conference, participants will report on the commemorative events around Berlin. The Thomson Foundation will  be on hand to provide mentoring, support and training.

Said Thomson Foundation training and development officer David Quinn: “This event is a great opportunity for journalists to come together from across the European Neighbourhood area whilst producing something practical for their editors,”

“We have been training these journalists for a year now and feel they are ready to move forward as a group and look at how the network can further support the development of journalism amongst the EU’s neighbours.”

A journalism training programme is running alongside the ENJN conference. More than 230 experienced journalists and editors from 16 neighbourhood countries are taking part in week-long materclasses focusing on print, broadcast and on-line skills.

The ENJN is operated for EuropeAid by an external consortium under the management of the Thomson Foundation. Consortium partners are the European Journalism Centre (Netherlands), the International Federation of Journalists (Belgium), Management Partners (UK) and BBJ Consult (Germany). For more information, go to the European Journalism Network.

Photo credit: The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s unmistakable symbol of unity, courtesy of Werkunz1/Flickr