Aims and Objectives of the "Asia-Europe network for Young Journalists"

With input from the different media situation and situations for young journalists in the different countries the first meeting of the steering-committee from 12th until 15th December 2009 in Singapore started seeing the needs and the meeting points for young journalists in the two regions. They set up aims, objectives for this network along with a few starting projects to be realized within 2010-2011.

With input from the different media situation and situations for young journalists in the different countries the meeting started seeing the needs and the meeting points for young journalists in the two regions. They started setting up aims, objectives for this network along with a few starting projects to be realized within the next year. These projects were also given time-lines and responsibilities. This can all be read below:

Overall aim of the Asia-Europe network for young journalists
Due to the limited understanding and lack of exposure of Asian themes in European media
and vice versa as well as non-existing common platforms we propose as follows:

• To broaden the cultural understanding, minimise stereotypes and discrimination by supporting a common platform for young journalists from Asia and Europe
• To establish and to use a common platform to meet, co-operate and create actual media output together.

In our work we promote freedom of expression and freedom of press by supporting the members of our network and mapping up a media landscape of the two regions.

Definition
AEYJN (this name is still to be discussed) is a network of young journalists from Asia and Europe who are regularly producing media. Young journalists from these regions can get involved by signing up to our newsletter and by participating in our projects. Our main working language is English.

Support of young journalists
We see it as our role to identify and highlight problems for young journalists in the regions
and to support and foster their work. We exist as a platform where young journalists can get professional contacts of importance to their work in the two regions. The AEYJN will also be an online resource for journalists looking for co-operation opportunities and general networking.

Create opportunities
We will collaborate with partners to provide opportunities for journalists through projects such as traineeships, mentoring, peer feedback and cultural exchange. Through this we aim to support young journalists, students and up and coming journalists; help their work get published and create media material that can be viewed and discussed. As a result these journalists receive feedback, thus creating a forum for discussion of important topics for young people in Europe and Asia.

Create output
With media projects and actual co-operation, we wish to establish Asian-European media products. Through these we will achieve and reach out more to the young generation in Asia and Europe. The young journalists in our network will then function as multipliers, implying that more youth readers and viewers will follow as an effect, giving our work more impact. More young people will as a result, achieve a deeper understanding concerning the two regions.

You can reach the steering-committee via email to asia-europe@youthmedia.eu.

Tags: objectives, aims, Asia, Europe