Última actualización Viernes, 28/03/2025
Before arriving in Brussels, many of us were nervous. What if we didn’t connect? What if it was awkward for the four days of our meeting? Nevermind. It’s time for you to meet the Pool of Young Journalists in Europe 2025!
On the first night, the 10th of February, rain, nachos, childhood stories and Macarena found their way into the group’s common life. Safe to say, we didn’t stay strangers for long, and we were soon ready to learn more about journalism, Europe, and ourselves, as we prepared to embrace the mission of becoming Young Journalists in Europe.
Since the European Year of Youth, dozens of young Europeans have been, as we are now, part of the Pool of Young Journalists in Europe. In all of us, European values run as a motivation to tell the stories we live and the stories of others. For the first time, there are 16 of us in one edition, and we discovered our backgrounds are extremely diverse, ranging from journalism to mathematics, from management to acting, and more. Our brainstorming sessions as we decided on our first articles for the European Youth Portal left us thirsty for each others’ articles, and believing they must reach younger and older generations alike.
During our stay, we visited the European Commission’s Berlaymont building, the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC), the European Parliament, and the House of European History. We were gifted with the chance to meet and learn from personalities such as Eva Hrncirova, Alex Schäfer, Karolis Vyšniauskas and John Holland. Some of them are journalists, while others started as such but moved on to new careers. Not only that, we also got to attend a Midday Press Briefing, led by Ana Pinho, with a special focus on developments on Ukraine and the geopolitical relevance of the European Union. We also saw how the Institutions do political communication and how to be up to speed with the topics that matter most to each of us.
This way, we learnt a lot about journalism, but far from only that. We understood what brings Europeans together, and why we must do so. We are now prepared to tell stories, each in their own way. And we learnt to keep on learning, with passion, ethics, and unity.
View the post we published on Instagram during our stay in Brussels
So many walks, photos, waffles and chocolates, breakfast mornings half-awake…in the end, we left with nostalgia, but also motivation. We loved being in Brussels together, meeting each other for the first time, with the feeling of having known each other for years.
And we’ll love it if you stay with us as we bring you Europe in all its shapes, colours, places, challenges, but also solutions, stories and dreams.
Get to know the 2025 Pool of Young journalists in Europe and keep an eye on the Portal for our upcoming articles.
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Young Journalists in Europe – Meet the authors
Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Lexi)
“You can call me Lexi. I’m navigating Law, Consulting, Journalism and Politics.
When not promoting a European Federation or participating in Erasmus+ projects, I may be found reading, working out, writing poetry or making dad jokes. And I’m a swiftie.
I like to write about things I believe we can fix together. And together we can fix almost everything”
Friederike Kroeger
“I have always loved books, poetry, and languages. Over time, I started writing my own stories and became curious about exploring and uncovering new things. Now, I am studying journalism, where I can combine my passion for storytelling with my love for discovery. I enjoy travelling and always have a book with me wherever I go.”
Lisa Leopoli
“Empathy: the essence of who I am and the soul of everything I write.
I am a university student in Public Relations and a journalist for my city’s local newspapers. But above all, I am a «border girl.» Born and raised in Gorizia, a city where Italy and Slovenia meet, I have learned that a border is not a barrier but a bridge, an invisible bond that unites cultures, stories, and people. I believe in unity, in the power of sharing, and in the value of storytelling and communication. Today, I am here not only to recount the past and learn from it but, more importantly, to write the future together. Because we, the youth, are not just spectators of tomorrow we are the protagonists who will shape it!”
Luiza Elena Zob
“Romanian but a citizen of the world driven by my never-ending curiosity. I hold a bachelor in Creative Business from the Netherlands and an Erasmus chapter in Madrid. From living in Sweden, New York, and Ecuador to stepping into the television industry, I’ve embraced every challenge as a story to tell. With a love for people and all forms of art and creation, writing is one of my ways of connecting with people and ideas, and I’m honoured to join this team of young European journalists.”
This article reflects the views of the authors only. The European Commission and Eurodesk cannot be held responsible for it.