The National Centre RUSSIA launches the Young Journalists School

On 23 December, the first stage of the competitive selection for children and young people aged 12–17 to join the unique signature project "Young Journalists School" will begin at the National Centre RUSSIA. Leading experts, mentors and media educators will work on the comprehensive development of a new generation of media specialists who will speak for the entire country – confidently, truthfully and with talent. Training will be provided free of charge.

The central mission of the school is not only to teach young people to write well and produce compelling videos, but also to shape a strong talent pool capable of contributing to the country’s information sovereignty.

"In the past I worked in television, so I understand perfectly what the profession of a journalist entails and why it matters. Today, more than ever, our country needs competent, responsible and courageous voices. That is why we are launching this project within the National Centre RUSSIA – to nurture those who will speak about our country’s achievements, about the heroes of our time, about the real Russia with love and without distortion," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA and Chair of the Expert Council of the "Young Journalists School" project.

The distinctive feature of the "Young Journalists School" is its integrated approach. A multifaceted programme consisting of five modules will ensure deep immersion both in meaning and in the craft of journalism. The programme is built around several key objectives. Participants will receive structured knowledge of the Russian language and the power of the word, as well as the fundamentals of journalism, its genres, ethics and legal standards. The main emphasis, however, will be on practice: under the guidance of mentors, students will create multimedia content – texts, photographs, videos, blogs and neural-network content – and will immediately test it across different platforms.

A core element of the training will also be the development of critical thinking, the ability to work with information, verify facts and counter manipulation. By creating materials about the country’s achievements and its heroes, young journalists will also develop a civic stance and a sense of shared purpose.

Participants will receive accreditation for events at the National Centre RUSSIA and the opportunity to undertake internships at the country’s key event venue. Classes will take place at the high-tech facilities of the National Centre RUSSIA, including the Movement of the First’s #MediaHouse, which is a co-organiser of the project. Young media creators will also engage with major national media outlets such as TASS, RT, RBC, VK and others, while exclusive speakers will include renowned experts and established professionals, including specialists from the ANO "Dialogue", the New Media Workshop, and winners of the "SHUM" Prize. And all of this will be free of charge.

Follow updates on preparations for the launch of the application campaign and on the rules for participation.