The European Network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ) will host its second symposium on 26 March 2026 at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, with the option to participate online.
Symposium timetable
14.10 How EU media policy developments are reshaping the working environment for journalists reporting from Brussels? Keynote speaker Julie MAJERCZACK – Chief of Brussels office Reporters without Borders.
14.40 How agricultural journalists report on innovation and tech in Europe – a study in 11 countries?
Keynote speaker Katharina SEUSER – Bonn University and ENAJ management committee member
15.10 Coffee break and networking sponsored by EuroCommerce
15.25 Panel 1 : Reporting on agriculture inside the Brussels bubble
Moderation : Melanie EPP, freelance and ENAJ MC member. Natasha FOOTE, freelance, Alice BERGOËND, agriculture reportteria for Euractiv, Simon Friedrich KLATT, correspondent of Agra Europe.
16.10 Panel 2 : Leaks, minsinformation and trust in agricultural communication
Moderation : Melanie EPP, freelance and ENAJ MC member. Diego CANGA FANO, DG Agri, Benoît CASSART, MEP, intergroup on sustainable livestock, Jean-Baptiste BOUCHER, Copa Cogeca, Philippa NUTTAL, journalist Sustainable Views.
16.50 Closing presentation: Long-term trends in agricultural media coverage and what they mean for public understanding
Claire MC CORMACK, journalist and assistant professorship teaching agricultural communication in Universty College Dublin.
17.25 Closing remarks by Klaus HARTIKAINEN
17.30 End of event
About ENAJ Symposium
The afternoon will examine how agricultural journalism functions inside the Brussels policy environment and how information moves between EU institutions, journalists and stakeholders.
Following a warm welcome from Christophe Rouillon, Member of the European Committee of the Regions, the programme opens with a keynote from Julie Majerczak, Representative to the European Institutions for Reporters Without Borders. Majerczak will address how developments such as the European Media Freedom Act, whistleblower protections and anti-SLAPP measures are reshaping the working environment for journalists reporting from Brussels.
Following that, Katharina Seuser of the University of Bonn will present research findings on how agricultural journalists report on innovation and technology, offering insight into framing, professional practice and challenges in covering complex topics.
Two panel discussions will follow.
Panel 1: Reporting on agriculture inside the Brussels bubble will bring together freelance journalist Natasha Foote, Alice Bergoënd of Euractiv, and Simon Klatt of Agra Europe to discuss the day-to-day realities of sourcing information, navigating institutional processes and balancing speed, accuracy and responsibility under deadline pressure. The panel will be moderated by freelance agricultural journalist Melanie Epp.
Panel 2: Leaks, misinformation and trust in agricultural communication will feature Benoit Cassart, MEP and member of the Intergroup on Sustainable Livestock, Jean-Baptiste Boucher of Copa-Cogeca, Diego Canga Fano of DG AGRI, and Philippa Nuttal, editor of Sustainable Views. The discussion will explore communication strategies in a polarised environment, the impact of leaks and unofficial disclosures, and how institutions, interest groups and media organisations share responsibility when misleading or incomplete narratives gain traction. The panel will be moderated by freelance agricultural journalist Melanie Epp.
The symposium will conclude with a presentation by Claire Mc Cormack of University College Dublin, who will share key findings from her PhD research on long-term trends in agricultural media coverage and their implications for public understanding and journalistic standards.
Attendance is open to agricultural journalists from ENAJ’s national guilds, Brussels-based journalists covering EU policy, as well as policymakers, researchers and stakeholders with an interest in agricultural communication.
Pre-registration is required: https://forms.gle/GDkjLwECatS5hxnT7
