Göteborg Young Reader Roundtable: Gazetta saved the river and young readers

Speaking at the 14 World Editor Forum, Gregory Piechota from the polish newspaper Gazetta Wyborcza  told the annual Young Reader Roundtable audience about how his paper, together with young readers, saved the river Respuda.

The polish government had decided to build a highway that would go through the river, something that Gazetta wanted to stop. At the same time they had to attract young readers. Gazetta asked readers to show the beauty of the river and publiched the pictures in the newspaper. They were also intewieving young people about their opinion. The next step was to do a free edition of Gazetta only with articles about the river and the environment around. The special edition was given out to young people at a rock music festival. The issue engaged many people and marches around the country started in 20 cities "We organised but people did it for themselves". Young people set a camp in the valley and Gazetta published stories about the river. With help from Gazetta and young readers the river was saved. Gregory Piechotas advice to engage young readers is to look for an issue that is interesting for all generations and give them ideas and tools. Catch them wherever you can!