From civic engagement to a European youth newsroom: EU FACTOR in Marseille

On 19 September 2026, the Ligue de l’enseignement – Fédération des Bouches-du-Rhône (Ligue 13) took part in the Journée de l’engagement (Youth Engagement Day), organised by young people from the Ligue 13’s Espace Jeunes (Youth Center) at Friche la Belle de Mai in Marseille.

This event is part of a wider youth civic engagement program that supports young people throughout the year in developing and taking part in initiatives in their local communities. Developing critical thinking, public speaking, intergenerational activities, media and communication, as well as organizing collective actions: young people are encouraged to develop their skills and take an active role in their communities.

The Journée de l’engagement also gave young people the opportunity to design and organize an event themselves, with the support of Ligue 13 and its partners. Nearly thirty young volunteers contributed to its preparation and implementation.

EU FACTOR meets young people in Marseille

The event also provided an opportunity for Ligue 13 to present EU FACTOR – European Futures Against Crisis of Truth and Opportunities for Resilience and its future Youth Newsroom in Marseille.

The young people attending were able to discover the project, discuss issues related to disinformation, media literacy, critical thinking and civic participation, and learn about the opportunities to get involved in this new European initiative.

The event was an important first step in engaging young people in Marseille who are already involved in civic activities and interested in media and content creation. The first registrations for the Youth Newsroom were collected during the event.

Building a Youth Newsroom in Marseille

The Youth Newsroom will enable young people to develop their skills in media and content creation, while working collectively on topics that matter to them and reflect their local realities.

This approach builds on their existing engagement: the experience they have gained through civic initiatives, public speaking, teamwork and media-related activities can be further developed and put into practice through EU FACTOR.

The project will also bring a european dimension to this dynamic, giving young people in Marseille the opportunity to exchange and collaborate with other young people and partner organizations in Italy and Albania.

The Journée de l’engagement thus provided a first meeting point between young people’s local civic engagement in Marseille and the European dynamic of EU FACTOR, paving the way for the development of the Marseille Youth Newsroom.