Youth and New Media,a productive partnership?

Maria Laura FranciosiJournalist

J@YS President

RésidencePalace

Association des Journalistes ProfessionnelsVlaamse Vereniging van Beroepsjournalisten

European Journalism Centre

National Union of Journalists

International Federation of Journalists

International Press Association

J@YS engagement with the media

Practical Information for journalists in Brussels and Belgium

Regular briefings, debates and events of interest to the media

Facilitating access to the major national and international political institutions

Advice on legal, financial, professional and union issues

Publication of Reporting Brussels a contact guide to European institutions and other bodies

Briefings for newcomers

Free of charge Twice a year Topics include:

- EU information sources- Authors’ rights- Protection of sources

- Status of freelance journalists- Belgian taxation/social security

Our website: www.brusselsreporter.eu Visit us:

International Press Centre (IPC)Résidence Palace(Metro Schuman)155 rue de la Loi, Bloc C1040 BrusselsTelephone: +32 (0)2 235 22 54Fax: +32 (0)2 235 23 45E-mail: info@brusselsreporter.eu

The Media in Brussels

• 1000 international journalists, 15,000 lobbyists (maybe more) 30,000 EU civil servants

• How does the media find and organise information?

• The internet’s contribution to the media

• The media’s contribution to the internet

• The European Commission and the media

Media in EU-rope

Crisis in the European media: newspapers closing, fewer jobs for journalists, growth of freelancing

Brussels also is not immune. Only a few years ago there were 1400 accredited journalists now there are 1000

“Selling” Europe: Euro-spin and Euro-spam 23 official languages in the EU: a media Babel Impact of lobbies on the media Corporate activities

Media in the world

Media crisis is now global

New forms of communication are being created: but can they be called media?

What does media mean? Information, learning, or message and spin?

Media and development: do they go hand in hand? (The case of Video Volunteers)

Challenges for journalists: risks for the audacious. Last year, journalists including Russian ones killed for their work reached a new peak

Difficulties young people face in trying to change the (internet) world

None or poorly paid jobs

Difficulty in making their voices heard

Censorship

Risks to privacy

False sense of power

Exploited by corporations through advertising

What impact have tools such as Twitter, Odnoklassniki and Facebook had on communication and social organisation?

Such tools provide communication but not information Lowering standards and reliability Broadening participation: good or bad? Emphasis on speed: good or bad? Less analysis / more superficiality Advertising and business tainting journalism More bias / less objectivity Less original content / more “churnalism” MORE transparency / openness accountability or LESS

Strategies for using the internet to communicate with and

mobilize young people

Leave Internet open (standards, interfaces etc) Guarantee Net neutrality Encourage self-expression in an original way Reach across continents to other young people Learn how other people live BUT: guarantee security and privacy

Optimising internet use in areas with low access

Use the most innovative technologies (tlc, satellites, wifi, portable smart phones, e.g., the case of South Korea)

Develop social networks by creating valuable content Engage citizens through e.g., “Gov.2.0” in political life in a period

when more and more people are disenchanted with politics Encourage politicians to listen to what people say

The results will be a shift of Internet power from developed to developing regions of the world

The evolution of internet technologies and trends

in internet access Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the Internet wrote that,

"If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad …... Certain undemocratic habits could emerge and misinformation will start spreading over the web …...

Studying these forces and the way they're affected by the underlying technology is one of the things that we think are really important“

He also insisted that:“disciplines are going to have to converge” “there is a great need for people that really understand the medium from both the technological and social side”. “web science isn't sufficiently widespread in the universities”

How will new internet technologies and increased internet access impact parties, NGOs, media and civil society as a whole?

Internet is changing the face of political communication

Civil society is becoming more active and ready to use new communicating tools to exchange ideas

Media must keep abreast of internet developments in order to be pro-active and not subordinate to trends

Potential limitations to effective internet use?

Propagandistic use by terrorists

Disinformation that generates dangerous reactions (the Uygurs case)

Cyberattacks

Monopolistic media domination

Linguistic domination

Low media standards

Potential negative consequences of increased communications through internet technology

Changing the face of journalism Professional standards lost and replaced by unconfirmed

rumours, gossip and chit-chat No more reasoned analysis An undermining of investigative journalism Citizens journalism, a dangerous slope Citizens-led journalism, a possible solution

Citizens Consultations

The future is in the hands of citizens, not politicians how can citizens have an impact on the political scene? Is the ballot box the only answer? Will electronic voting, new communication technologies

and web-based campaigning increase the risk of rigging?

Let’s discuss this !!