On 6-7 September 2007 at the Hermitage Theatre the Second European Forum for Young Journalists was held with the discussion topic of 'Dialogue of Cultures and New Technology', organized by the Eurasia Media Centre, the State Hermitage Museum, the International Academy of Television and Radio, International Confederation of Journalist Unions supported by the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, Alcatel-Lucent and UNESCO.

The young journalists from former Soviet countries gathered to discuss approaches and experiences of the media community in different countries with cultural and religious tolerance.

The forum was held in one of the largest museums in the world, the State Hermitage Museum. Humanity's cultural unity is especially well represented here and that was the reason why the event was held at specifically this location.

In Saint Petersburg, the invited journalists could discuss with their colleagues today's hot issues for society in many countries and learn about others' experiences in resolving problems common to the international community.

The Dialogue of Cultures and New Technology Forum was organized to demonstrate to promising, young members of the mass media from Eurasia the common roots and mutual influence that various national cultures and world religions have had on each other and the artificiality of their differences.

More than 100 young representatives of the leading organizations in mass media took part in the forum, with participants coming from Russia, Belarus, Moldavia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Central Asian countries: commentators included broadcasters and editors from the well known company EuroNews and RUFO (Germany), and also a number of authoritative public figures from Saint Petersburg and Moscow.

In addition to the two day discussion and exchange of opinions, the participants of the forum were also shown the most unique and interesting television and radio reports, presented by their colleagues from different countries.

During the forum, there was also an awards ceremony for the winners and laureates of the international journalism competitions 'New Technologies: from Idea to Introduction' and 'Russia: A View from the Side' held with the support of UNESCO and Alcatel-Lucent.

Ashot Dzhazoyan, General Director of the Eurasia Media Centre and General Secretary of the International Confederation of Journalist Unions

Marius Lukoshyunas, UNESCO Communication and Information Adviser, Moscow

Sergey Kapitsa, Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and presenter for the programme 'Ochevidnoe - neveroyatnoe' (Obvious Unbelievable)

Anatoly Lysenko, President of the International Academy of Television and Radio

At the European Forum for Young Journalists
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