“There is room for improvement in EYP Journalism.” #understatement

EYP Journalism is cute and “interesting” at best, bland and mostly pointless at worst.

Back in the days — when sessions were organised through snail-mail and fax, and smoking was still permitted during GA — EYP newspapers probably were a nice way to preserve memories and reflect back at sessions. I’m sure they were a source of entertainment during a session too. Not that I know; I joined EYP in late 2007 — more than a year after Twitter was launched.

Since then, I’ve seen some brave attempts at updating EYP Journalism for the 21st century. Some more successful than others. But I’m going to take a stance here: with a few exceptions, they have all been wrong. Absolutely wrong.

I’m a marketeer. And in marketing, we have this example: the first television ad for Barbie Dolls was… one of their radio ads, with some visuals tacked on. You can watch it here.

As far as good advertising goes — of course that isn’t a good ad. I’m sure it was impressive when this whole TV thing was brand spanking new, but besides it’s novelty value (or nostalgic value nowadays), it’s rubbish. With a capital ‘R’. Because it was a radio ad, for TV.

Things have changed. Technology has changed. Society has changed. The whole infrastructure of how we communicate, and digest information and entertainment has changed. But the way we’re doing EYP journalism is in the snail-mail fashion, trying to incorporate digital. In EYP, we’re making radio ads for TV too.

Let’s let go of our old ways of doing things. They don’t serve us anymore.
Together, let’s start from scratch. Let’s reinvent the horse-and-cart.

This is a manifesto for murder.
I’m here to kill EYP journalism. Down with the king.

I love this organisation too much.
I’ve gained too much from it. I’ve seen it change too many lives.
I understand EYP too well to not feel passionately for this. To not burn for this, now that the opportunity is here.

Are you with me?

I mean it: are you with me?
This May, EYP France is organising the D-Day Youth Forum in Caen. And I’m Editor-in-Chief. I’d love your help re-imagining EYP Journalism.
I can’t promise much. But I promise I won’t waste your time.

Join me — apply as Journalist or Vice-Editor. Or help me spread the word, by sharing this manifesto.