Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter is a Council of Europe initiative under the Monaco Presidency, organised through the Journalists Matter Campaign with the Youth Revitalising Democracy project. Selected young people join journalists, media creators, policymakers, researchers and experts in Strasbourg to examine disinformation, information integrity and journalism’s role in democracy.
The first day is a high-level conference at the Palais de l’Europe, followed by interactive workshops at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg on verification, journalist safety, critical thinking and media literacy.
Benefits & funding
- The Council of Europe covers travel, accommodation and meals for selected participants.
- Selected participants are accommodated at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg.
- The working languages are English and French, with interpretation during plenary sessions.
- Participants who need a visa for France can request an official invitation letter from the organisers.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be 18–30 years old and reside in a Council of Europe member State.
- Eligible places of residence are Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
- Applicants need an interest or experience in journalism and media, digital content creation, media and information literacy, education and youth work, human rights and democratic participation, fact-checking, AI or information integrity.
- Journalists, journalism students, creators, youth leaders, educators, researchers and representatives of youth organisations and civil society are particularly encouraged to apply; this is a preference, not a separate eligibility gate.
- No nationality, gender, degree or minimum work-experience requirement is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark
+ 34 more
Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · North Macedonia · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Türkiye · Ukraine · UK
Age requirement
18–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Use the participation application linked from the official event page; the participation route is separate from the project-grant application.
- 2Submit the online form by 1 September 2026.
- 3Selected participants are informed by 17 September 2026 and attend the Strasbourg event on 9–10 November 2026.
Program timeline
Participation applications opened
6 July 2026
Application deadline
1 September 2026
Selected participants informed by this date
17 September 2026
High-level conference and program start
9 November 2026
Interactive workshops and program end
10 November 2026