Eight young people from northern Moldova, students at Alecu Russo State University in Bălți, participated from October 1–3 in the Youth Media Labs Moldova 2026 workshop, organized in Bălți by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) in partnership with the International Media Academy (IMA) in Germany.
Over the course of three days, guided by instructors Valeria Batereanu and Maria Rudenko, the participants worked on developing ideas for journalistic stories, identifying a relevant angle, and researching information and interviewing sources.
The young people discussed responsibility and ethics in journalism, the public interest, and how news stories can be adapted for online platforms and social media. Another topic covered was fact-checking and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in journalism.
“Participating in Youth Media Labs Moldova 2026 was an interesting experience for me. Even though I already work in a newsroom, the three-day workshop gave me the opportunity to learn new things, develop my professional skills, and discover new perspectives on this profession. I also enjoyed a wonderful exchange of experiences with other young people passionate about journalism. I’m leaving this workshop with new ideas and greater motivation to continue my professional development,” said Cătălina Scutelnic.
“Over the course of three days, we had the opportunity to explore various facets of modern journalism: from identifying and verifying sources, researching information, and maintaining ethical standards, to journalism tailored for social media. We discussed how to choose a topic, how to develop a journalistic angle, how to ask the right questions, and, above all, how to tell stories that are relevant to the audience. A highlight was meeting media professionals who showed us how an idea can evolve from a rough draft into a published story. We’re leaving this workshop with new insights, ideas for future stories, and greater confidence in our own abilities,” said Victor Solomon.
Part of the workshop was dedicated to fieldwork. The students were tasked with identifying topics in Bălți that could become journalistic stories, observing and documenting information, and formulating their own story proposals. Afterward, they presented their ideas and received editorial feedback on the angle, format, and steps needed to develop the stories.
“As a second-year student at the Faculty of Letters, majoring in Journalism and Media Studies, the workshop provided me with a valuable experience for my future career. It helped me develop new communication and interpersonal skills. I was particularly impressed by the hands-on team exercise, which involved fieldwork as reporters and pushed us out of our comfort zones,” emphasized Mădălina Verhoveţchi.
The instructors aimed to help participants move from general ideas to specific story proposals that could be researched and turned into journalistic pieces. The workshop also included exercises in interviewing, writing, and digital storytelling.
“For three days in Bălți, we talked with young people from the north of the country about what it’s like to be a journalist in 2026. We discussed the new forms journalism is taking and why adaptability is one of the most important skills a young professional must have. We also returned to the age-old question: ‘Does it still matter how we write?’” says journalist Valeria Batereanu, editor-in-chief of Diez.md, and an instructor and mentor in the Youth Media Labs Moldova 2026 program.
For her part, Maria Rudenko, project manager at the International Media Academy (IMA) and also a trainer in the program, noted the young people’s engagement and active participation throughout the workshop. “I hope this workshop has given you more confidence to pursue your ideas and turn them into journalistic pieces. Keep asking questions, verifying information, and looking for stories that are relevant to the people in your communities,” Maria Rudenko urged the participants.
The Youth Media Labs Moldova 2026 program is designed for young people interested in journalism and media production. A similar event is scheduled to take place in November in Comrat.
The activity was implemented with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
