Jargon busting & other tips
2. Working in Brussels
With the Press services of all the EU institutions, at least 12 000 lobbyists and a multitude of EU-related organisations all giving out information on European issues on a daily basis, working in Brussels can be a daunting prospect especially for a newly arrived journalist.
The European Commissions midday briefing at the Berlaymont headquarters is considered by many a good way to organise the day. It gives an overview of what is happening in the Commission but also elsewhere in the EU world, and exchanging views with fellow journalists at the briefing will further help in clearing up the picture. Since there are almost a thousand foreign correspondents working in Brussels, it is easy to create a network of colleagues with the added bonus of getting national views on the issues on the side.
In any case, prioritising is a must; no reporter can cover everything that happens in the EU, even on a slow news day.
This EU4Journalists web-site gives information on how the EU works, who are the main players and which are the major European issues; the Journalists at Your Service site includes good tips on the practicalities on getting settled in Brussels.
Accredited journalists can register to receive a plethora of news updates, press releases and newsletters from different EU institutions and EU-related organisations. Being registered to receive EU press information directly in your inbox helps both Brussels-based and external journalists plan their editorial schedule in several ways. Knowing, for example, when a Commission report will be launched on hydrogen energy initiatives means a journalist can see if this corresponds with initiatives closer to home for the local angle. Also, press announcements will often include an official statement which can be quoted and attributed to the respective official.