Applications close for the second season of the Young Journalists School of the National Centre RUSSIA

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Applications for the second season of the Young Journalists School have closed at the National Centre RUSSIA. Over a month and a half, more than 2,500 creative submissions were received from applicants across 70 regions of the country. The original, multi-format programme, run by the National Centre RUSSIA together with the Russian Ministry of Education and the Movement of the First for schoolchildren and college students aged 12–17, aims to help participants gain practical media skills, build a portfolio and perhaps choose journalism as their future profession.

A total of 1,266 boys and girls applied for the selection process. Over the coming week, more than 80 experts will assess their creative work: essays on one of three proposed topics — "Russia. My Story in the Country's History", "The National Centre RUSSIA — Where Meaning Takes Shape" and "Russia's Future Begins with Me" — as well as motivational videos in which applicants introduced themselves, their hobbies and their interests in media.

A list of applicants advancing to the in-person selection stage will be published on russia.ru on 31 October. Over the following week, they will attend interviews and write essays for assessment. The final list of participants will be announced on 15 November. Classes for the second season are scheduled to begin in November.

The project's first season demonstrated that the Young Journalists School provides participants with both knowledge and the skills to put it into practice. Some began successfully developing their own blogs about school life, others published their first articles in the media, and some graduates have already tried working as correspondents at major events. The project gave them an opportunity to believe in themselves and understand that, alongside popularity, working in today's media requires a strong sense of responsibility, curiosity, the ability to listen to people and a sincere love for the Motherland. Graduates of the first season formed a youth media community at the National Centre RUSSIA.

The second season's programme is even more extensive. It comprises seven modules and combines theory with practice. Participants first gain a structured understanding of the Russian language, the foundations of journalism, its genres, ethics and legal standards, before creating their own multimedia projects under the guidance of mentors. Particular attention is paid to digital tools and the ability to distinguish reliable information from manipulation. A significant addition this season is the "Word" module, devoted to an in-depth study of the Russian language.

Participants also have the opportunity to see the profession from the inside. They will be introduced to the country's leading news agencies, where they can see first-hand how editorial teams work, how news stories take shape and how broadcasts are put together. They will bring their own creative ideas to life by covering real events at the National Centre RUSSIA.

Classes at the Young Journalists School are taught by media educators, practising experts and recognised media professionals. In-person sessions at the National Centre RUSSIA are available to residents of Moscow and the Moscow Region. Participants in Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Ryazan, Sevastopol and Khanty-Mansiysk can also attend in person at branches of the National Centre RUSSIA. An online module has been developed for participants from other regions, enabling them to study remotely.

Upon completing the programme, graduates receive a certificate of completion, practical experience and their first media portfolio. The best work is promoted through the project's and its partners' channels and in the media, while the most motivated participants receive additional opportunities for professional development: internships, involvement in media projects and recommendations from the National Centre RUSSIA.