Navigating the EU institutions and mastering EU news reporting: a two-day workshop in Brussels

How does the European Union work and how do I cover news coming from the EU institutions accurately and effectively?

That’s what Yacine Le Forestier, Deputy-Head of Europe Region and Head of Germany at Agence France-Presse (AFP), taught a group of journalists from all over Europe over the course of two days at the European Newsroom (enr).

Participants learned how to strengthen their ability to report on EU news through interactive sessions, real-world reporting exercises, and expert guidance. They gained practical insights into how the EU institutions work, how decisions are made, and how to find and verify sources.

From navigating EU communication channels to making the most of resources like the European Broadcasting Service (EBS), this workshop was all about building confidence and skills – one story at a time.

While the first day focused on the theory behind the EU institutions and how to cover them, the second day revolved around experiencing the EU machinery from the inside by visiting three core institutions. 

Day 1: Understanding the Institutions and Sources

On the first day of the workshop, participants gathered at the enr’s premises at Belga News Agency in the heart of Brussels. 

The session kicked off with an interactive quiz and roleplay to familiarise the participants with the core EU institutions. Followed by practical tips and tricks, they learned where and how to get information – both online and offline.

To put their knowledge into practice, a breaking news simulation covering a previous European Council summit – which brings together EU heads of state and government – provided for a hands-on exercise. 

Finally, bearing in mind that EU news is often considered coming from inside a bubble, journalists were taught not to forget the human side of a story and were given a handful tips on how to turn policy into stories for a larger audience. 

Journalists from all over Europe gathered at the European Newsroom’s premises at Belga News Agency for the first day of its workshop on EU news coverage. Photos: European Newsroom

Day 2: Inside the Council, Commission, and Parliament of the EU

Having learned about the EU institutions from the enr classroom, the second day was all about experiencing the EU machinery from the inside – meeting key representatives, press officers and spokespersons of the three most important institutions. 

The day began with a visit to the Council of the European Union, where participants met with Niels Timmermans, press officer for Telecommunications and Transport. They were also given a guided tour of the Justus Lipsius and Europa buildings by Federico Bagioli of the press centre.

Across the street, the group moved to the European Commission’s Berlaymont building to meet with Deputy Chief Spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker and to discuss with him the communication channels and policies of the Commission’s media team.

To end the day, participants visited the European Parliament to meet with Neil Corlett, Head of the Press Unit, as well as his team of press officers and Emilie Tournier from the Parliament’s Spokesperson’s Unit. They were also given a guided tour of the building, including the hemicycle and the audiovisual services.

On the second day of the workshop, journalists visited the European Parliament, Commission and Council of the EU to meet with key representatives and see the facilities first-hand. Photos: European Newsroom