EIGHT international journalists living in Sweden have launched a media hub for professional media practitioners, creatives, and users.
With diverse backgrounds and experiences from Australia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia and Tanzania, the journalists established the Gothenburg Media Hub (GMH) that has two main functions – facilitating cross-border journalism and serving an English speaking audience in Sweden.
The launch event was held in Gothenburg yesterday, attended by more than 30 participants, mostly from Gothenburg and adjacent areas.
Six guest speakers attended, including Gothenburg University Professor Maarit Jaakkola, Göteborgs Posten Editor Victor Blomdahl, and Communication Specialist Jule Wegen. Other guest speakers were freelance journalists Anne Grietje Fransson, Annastasiia Palchyk, and Javad Maleki.
In a panel discussion co-moderated by Alex Maxia and Regine Glaß, the speakers shed some light and provided some tips on the topic of the day: “How to survive as a media freelancer.”
Regarding the tips for successfully pitching a story to editors, Palchyk spoke on the importance of giving a relevant context in the process, while Blomdahl underlined the importance of being precise and choosing an attractive angle. He said:
“This way, the journalist draws the attention of the editor to consider the pitch.”
Emphasising the essence of professional connection, he said, “it is easier for editors to accept pitches from the journalists personally known to them.”
Professor Jaakkola advised international journalists to find a variety of media outlets instead of concentrating on mainstream media.
She said:
“Mainstream media are not the only option. There are many – cultural magazines, union magazines, trade union magazines, professional magazines with various niches and special needs…”
This is the first event by the GMH, whose establishment started in September this year with the help of a Pan-european media entity, Are We Europe, which is also supporting several initiatives in other locations within Europe.
The hub will help to engage international communities by providing a platform for professional dialogues and engagement in English.
While it is connecting journalists and media creatives in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, the hub is set to serve as a link for professionals in the Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway Finland, Denmark and Iceland. The Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland are not excluded.
The participants’ excitement was obvious, as Photojournalist Paul W. sums it up:
“I am very happy about it. It’s something that I sort of looked for…so, when I heard about it, I was very excited, and I am very surprised how many people actually turned up here. I think it is going to be a very nice place to network.”
According to co-founder Alex Maxia, the hub is expected to organise several other events of a similar or different nature in the next few months.
The GMH co-founders are Alex Maxia, Amelie Reichmuth, Ansbert Ngurumo, Eden Maclachlan, Lily Ray, Regine Glaß, Rita Cruz, and Sascha Roslyakov.
