Join The Newsroom 27,
Slate.fr's ephemeral trans-European newsroom
The stories
An ambitious underwater tunnel in the Baltic Sea to boost the economy of two islands
In the Baltic Sea, a gigantic road and rail project promises to facilitate trade between the two countries. For the inhabitants of the two islands to be linked by the future tunnel, this new infrastructure could reverse the trend of economic decline.
In Brussels, an urban agriculture initiative bears fruit
In the Belgian capital, the Graines de Paysans association provides space and time for those who want to start market gardening, flower growing or making herbal teas. The aim is to encourage fresh passion for a difficult profession, and promote sustainability and localism.
To facilitate the inclusion of Roma, a Portuguese association relies on evangelism
Noting the lack of interest among Roma in the activities and work placements it offers, an association in the small town of Fundão decided to do things differently.
In the northwest of Ireland, a transnational project blends immersive tech with literary tourism
Tools such as augmented reality and virtual reality promise to offer new experiences for lovers of literature, but also to compensate for the lack of accessibility of certain sites and even to combat overtourism.
How a European project brought the fight against light pollution to Luxembourg
Scientists increasingly raise the alarm about the environmental and health impacts of light pollution. But measures to reduce it often meet apathy or, on the contrary, vehement opposition – for, as in Luxembourg, security concerns and "myths" around darkness sit deep within the population.
Coding courses for migrants in Croatia
The NGO Borders None takes in asylum seekers and provides them with courses for the IT sector, where there is currently a labour shortage.
The rebirth of Bratislava public baths
After decades of abandonment, this emblematic building of the Slovak capital is the subject of an ambitious restoration project.
To counter brain drain, the European High North is banking on video games
In Sweden and Finland, the Borderless Game Academy is developing a cross-border curriculum. The ambition, beyond providing training for video game professions, is to diversify the local economy by creating new industries.
On the Millevaches Plateau, two community media outlets fight for social cohesion
Radio Vassivière and Télé Millevaches give a voice to the inhabitants of the Millevaches plateau (France), despite economic difficulties.
Naples takes action to combat school drop-out and youth crime
In a town plagued by insecurity and family disengagement, a number of associations are trying to curb the trend.
The project
For 27 days, 27 young European journalists will work together to produce 27 reports on the concrete applications of cohesion policy. Far from the institutional rhetoric, they will offer lively, embodied accounts of the men and women behind EU-funded projects in a variety of environmental, economic, social and societal fields. The 27 reports will be published in various media across the EU.
I - The Newsroom 27 - How does it work?
- You find a story related to a project financed by the EU. Many of them are here, here, here and here. You can also ask the representation of the EU Commission in your country about the existing projects around you.
- You prepare a draft of a story linked to one of the projects financed by the EU and you apply to The Newsroom 27 by following the requirements listed here. The application process is open until February 15th 2024, 11:59 PM CET.
- Once selected, you integrate the virtual newsroom, get the opportunity to collaborate with other young journalists from the Member states and with the Slate team report and write your story as part of a consistent editorial project. Your work shall start in the beginning of Spring and be published between the end of Spring and the beginning of Autumn.
II - The project
The selected candidates will benefit from the advice of professional journalists from Slate France, and will have the opportunity to learn from each other in the virtual newsroom. A common conversation will be opened, and three plenary sessions of the newsroom will be organized throughout the process.
The 27 selected candidates will be remunerated, and the costs related to the report will be covered. The young reporters will be guided in their investigation, reporting, writing and editing work by Slate.fr’s editorial staff, and by a project manager who is himself a journalist.
The 27 selected candidates will be remunerated, and the costs related to the report will be covered.
III - The stories
Each member of The Newsroom 27 will have to write one long story (1000 words / 7000 characters minimum) linked to a project financed by the EU in his country, through an original angle.
The stories should present innovative projects supported by the EU in a European region, and more specifically initiatives developed with the help of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Just Transition Fund and the Recovery Plan in key sectors –innovation, ecology, digital, social, citizenship.
The stories will be published in French, in English and in the native language of their authors on Slate.fr, on the website thenewroom27.eu and in various media across the EU, giving the young journalists access to a wide audience.
