Birth of a major media community: the National Centre RUSSIA hosts working meeting for Young Journalists School graduates
The first intake of the Young Journalists School marked the beginning of a large professional community. Graduates continue to try their hand as correspondents, writers and multimedia content creators, covering major events across the country and projects of the National Centre RUSSIA. On 19 September, the first working meeting of the academic year was held at the Centre, giving participants fresh momentum for a productive year of study together with the project.
Ilya Yurchishin, Head of the Youth Policy Department at the National Centre RUSSIA, welcomed the participants. He noted that the first intake of the School had become true pioneers who took on the responsibility of becoming young journalists, and emphasised that one of the main tasks now facing the graduates was to create a vibrant, active and dynamic alumni community.
"You did not simply succeed, make the effort and achieve results in the first season of our project. You became true pioneers — the ones who took on the responsibility of becoming young media professionals. We went through an extensive programme: expert meetings, motivational tours, practical training, internships and assessments. And now we very much want all of us together to form an alumni community that is vibrant, dynamic and interesting. Even the date of our meeting was chosen for a reason: today is the birthday of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky — a legendary dreamer, innovator and remarkable person whose ideas brought about incredible breakthroughs in science and our understanding of the world. Our thoughts, dreams, views and hopes need to be on the same scale — so that we always think about our great Russia and what we can do for it," Ilya Yurchishin told the participants.
During the working meeting, the participants were introduced to the updated project team, the programme for the new season and the key areas of joint work. In the interactive part of the event, the graduates completed practical tasks designed to develop teamwork skills and created videos for the new season's information campaign.
The central topic of the meeting was the concept of the Young Journalists School alumni community. The participants were told about opportunities for professional development, the benefits of taking part in the project and plans for the academic year. Preparations for the new season's application campaign were also discussed. The graduates formed working groups and discussed formats for the information campaign, the distribution of roles and their first joint initiatives. These include content featuring advice from graduates, open lessons at educational institutions and livestreams analysing contest tasks and the specifics of the selection process.
An important part of the event was a meeting with musician, blogger, creator of the "Max Life" channel and friend of the National Centre RUSSIA Maxim Anufriev. He asked the participants what the Young Journalists School had given them and where they saw themselves in the future. In turn, the graduates recalled one of the most motivating expert meetings the blogger held for them last summer and spoke about the recent participation of a media team made up of Young Journalists School graduates in the International Festival of Youth — 2026 in Yekaterinburg. There, the participants represented the National Centre RUSSIA and its educational projects, interviewed guests and participants, filmed videos and prepared materials on the festival's key events.
"I am always very happy to be at the National Centre RUSSIA and to meet the young people who attend the Young Journalists School here. This is extremely important for their future and for the future of Russia as a whole. It is wonderful that places like this exist in our country: for me, this is perhaps one of the most significant achievements of modern policy. I hope that our cooperation with the National Centre RUSSIA and the Young Journalists School will continue and expand — becoming more ambitious over time — and that we will certainly bring all our joint ideas to life," said Maxim Anufriev.
The working meeting of Young Journalists School graduates marked the start of a new stage in the development of the alumni community. Ahead for the team are participation in information campaigns, the creation of their own media projects and coverage of key events at the National Centre RUSSIA.
The Young Journalists School is an original project of the National Centre RUSSIA that combines mentoring, practical experience and direct interaction with media professionals. Participants learn journalistic genres, how to conduct interviews and prepare reports, work with photography and video, run a blog, create content for media platforms, verify facts and analyse sources. In addition to lectures, School participants complete practical assignments, work on their own projects, create multimedia content and have the opportunity to cover real events at the National Centre RUSSIA and its branches.
Applications for the second season of the Young Journalists School are still open. Young people aged 12 to 17 can take part in the competitive selection process, and tuition is free. Applications can be submitted until 10 October on the russia.ru website.
Event photobank
At the stand, the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office also met with graduates of the first cohort of the National Centre RUSSIA Young Journalists School.
The Young Journalists School of the National Centre RUSSIA is a place where a simple interest can grow into a profession and dreams can become reality.
On 3 September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a press conference marking the launch of the second season of its original project, the "Young Journalists School".
