This picture was taken in Brussels, I am interviewing Shirin Wheeler from the BBC about her weekly EU politics programme, 'the record, Europe'..

Shortly after her programme and production team were awarded with the European parliament p rize for journalism 2008.

The latter is a prize awarded tothe best print, radio, tv and internet journalists from all over Europe. If you are reading this and you are a jounalist, why not apply this year. More details on the website below. 

http://www.eppj.eu/

 Europocket TV team

Since 2006, I have been working for a European web tv called Europocket TV.....

The team makes up young people from Spain, France, Holland, Portugal, Belgium, Poland and its constantly changing! The snap there is a family photo we took in summer! 

 

The Irish Polish Connection

its January 2009, this time last year, I spent a few days in my capital city Dublin getting to know the Polish culture on the streets of Dublin... If we had filmed the report this month, maybe the images might have looked different but I dare you to forget the recession for a minute and enjoy this video we made last year where the Poles seem to be settling in quite well to the fair city. 

Tajin and tea- an afternoon in Valencia

The Charter for European Muslims was signed at the start of 2008 in the European Parliament...to outline the rights and responsibilities of the 13 million Muslims living in European society.... Last year in honor of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, I spent the afternoon with two Muslims living in the Valencian Community in Spain. We finished off eating delicious tajin

a trip on the metro

THe above is one of the reports I created for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue........

Back in January 2008, before embarking on my intercultural tour, I took to the streets of Brussels, Copenhagen and Valencia to quiz people on the concept of intercultural dialogue….The microphone was on, the camera was recording but the responses were mundane……there were mumbles and grumbles but nobody could put there finger on the actual definition of intercultural dialogue.

Today Europe is on the move; from mini-breaks to mobility programmes, both old and young are wearing a new European scent, a scent that could be marketed as ‘euphoria- the global village’. Long gone our the days where one was just informed about news and scandal in their local areas, now the Irish pork scandal or Carla Bruni’s latest album is on the tip of the tongues of people from all over. Young people are online 24/7, exchanging photos, information, friends and tips to their companions from all over the bloc. Europe has changed so much that even nations are packing their bags and moving to other countries to live….

A nice rapper from London

'I'm 26 but don't get out much coz I have a lady and three kids', 'I'm shooting a movie next week with Fifty cent', a few of the things that Asher D casually said to me when I interviewed him in London before Christmas. For more, watch the video! 

European Youth Media Days - a must for a young reporter in Europe!

If you take the metro from Valencia's main train station, in ten minutes you arrive at the airport... I do that a lot.  

One of my recent trips took me to Brussels; the EU paid a lot of money to bring 270 young journalists to the Parliament to teach them about the ins and outs of the EU hub. Here's a glimpse....

Dublin by night

Axel Beer is not only the Austrian boyfriend of one of my closest friends, but also a journalism student. The dynamic guy is constantly looking out for new things, people and situations. He spent Christmas in his girlfiend's home town just outside Dublin but he also came for a pint with me and even to my home town Navan! His little report is quirky if you'd like to take a look. Its in Austrian German though so here's a test to your high school German! Viel Spass

Above is English version just in case you didnt catch Axel's Austrian

Your Voice, Your Video

The guy there is Brendan O Connor. He is an Irish journalist who makes the front page of the Irish Independent every Sunday, one of Ireland's broadsheets. A former comedian, he is known for his skepticism, sarcasm and wit......he said something recently that caught my attention.

 'The last guy who thought he was perfect was nailed to a cross', he said on live Irish television  and was referring to the freshly ordained President of the United States, Barack Obama. 

I`m sure you saw any images, speeches, glitz and glamour from last week's gala.... Once thing is sure, we all have an opinion about Obama.

And if you want to articulate it, you can by producing a three minute video for the 'Democracy video challenge' competition.

www.videochallenge.america.gov./

The competition is open to people from all over the world and is an iniative of the American government. You must upload a three minute on you tube by the 31st of this month..

the question to answer in the video is 'what is democracy?'

Seems like a bit of a global marketing research stunt being pulled here but winners get a trip to both Washington and Hollywood so I´ve already started my video!

A camper van in Valencia

Amidst the flurry of speeding cars darting around Valencia this weekend, an exaggerated white camper van could be seen. With a German number plate, passers by would think it held a retired couple from Bavaria, but the big white mini bus is actually the home of two engineering students from Graz......With hardly a word of Spanish between them, the Erasmus students arrived in Valencia over a week ago and although they even drafted an Excel list with 145 affordable flats, they still haven't been able to find a place to live. They ain't fussy, in fact they just really want a place to shower, but their experience shows how difficult it is for exchange students to initially find their feet. .....The university international office hardly opens, Spanish students are doing exams and not a soul could even grant the guys with a password to access the campus wifi. On top of that, pre-paid mobile phone cards cost an arm and a leg so the boys didn't even want to use their phone to call their future flats! I'm not sure whether they are more afraid of the price of the call or the Spanish voice at the end of the phone. However, they have their fridge, their cooker, their nice bed and their lovely bus and the joy of choosing a new Valencian address each night. So although it sounds a bit daunting at first, life in a camper van in Valencia seems to be working out just fine...........and you know why? Coz the guys are politely using the university facitlites to have their daily shower and shave!!!

ESNA`s Valencian Correspondent

Recently I agreed to join ESNA, Europe's First News Agency for Higher Education

 www.esna.tv

So, during next three months, I should become a top-class expert on the Spanish educational system. From the recent manifestations against Bologna to the local youth associations, all the information that I gather and the articles that I write will be found on the following website; 

www.esna.tv 

Whilst the page is being prepared for the public, I will start publishing here on my blog. If you happen to be a student, a member of a youth organization or even a resident of a university campus residence in Spain, get it touch and let me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. And in time ESNA will then publish a weekly newsletter updating you on campus activities all over Europe.