You studied business economics, then turned to journalism. Why this change?
Like many 17-year-olds, I wasn't sure what to do after high school. My parents advised me to study economics, which opens a lot of doors. There were some courses I really liked, particularly marketing, where we worked on advertising. But I soon realized that I wouldn't be the one dreaming up the campaigns, but rather the consultant analyzing the target audience. I didn't see myself as part of the classic corporate consultancy route. I'm proud of my background in economics, but I needed something more concrete and creative. That's what led me to journalism.
Is your master's degree in management sciences useful to you today in your journalism career?
Yes, it's useful to me in several ways. Firstly, the courses I took in economics, econometrics or management taught me to think in a Cartesian way. Having additional training in journalism, such as law, political science or management, is a real asset. Secondly, these studies help me to understand how companies work. Nowadays, executives often have managerial responsibilities, but receive little training for this. My five years in management give me an advantage: I have a better understanding of hierarchical systems and consultants' decisions. This gives me a critical eye and a better understanding of the professional environments in which I operate.
What do you enjoy about being a journalist?
I'm a news junkie. What I love is being where it's happening, when it's happening. I love the adrenaline of live coverage, during major events like an election, a government collapse, a sporting event... I love working in those moments.
You recently covered the presidential election live from Washington. What do you remember from that experience?
It was obviously exciting to be there and experience the event live. But since it happened, I've been in a form of professional introspection. I find that what happens in the United States often takes a while to reach us. Here, there's been a real paradigm shift and a change of confidence in the traditional media. Something has broken down between the so-called traditional media, such as RTBF, and part of the population. Don't we also need to reconsider the way we handle things? Aren't we ourselves in our own bubble? One criticism is that we always see information that reinforces our cognitive biases. Are we, the Belgian Western media, also in this and haven't we sensed a certain form of anger in the population? It was exciting to cover the American presidential election, but it also raises a lot of questions in me.
What's your vision for the future of journalism?
It's both an editorial and managerial reflection. How can we cover the news in a relevant way while remaining creative, despite budget constraints? To reconnect with my studies, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with management. We've all heard of companies where hierarchical structures and the ensuing meetings stifle any form of creativity on the part of employees. So how do we structure modern newsrooms so that they're efficient without stifling innovation? And how do we reach a younger audience that gets its information differently, often via the Internet? This also raises the question of our presence on social networks: they enable us to broaden our audience, but at the same time, they strengthen platforms that are our competitors.
What advice would you give to students who are doubting their choice of study and considering a reorientation?
I was very hesitant myself. I was quite pessimistic about the future, afraid of entering the world of work. By reorienting myself, I found a field I was passionate about and, from one day to the next, I said to myself, "This, I could do with pleasure". If you're not happy with your current studies, there are plenty of opportunities to change direction, such as bridging courses or Masters 60. A diploma is just a calling card; what counts is what you do next. The first few months after graduation are crucial. Send out CVs, try things out, explore! It's by trying that you discover what you like.
And to future journalists?
I see a lot of young people picking up on the methods of older journalists, their typical voices for example. Don't try to imitate them, do what sounds like you. You're the new generation, you know your codes, you know how to talk to your audience. Bring that to journalism! Dare, innovate and say what you have to say.
What do you remember from your years in Namur?
What stood out for me was the city. After two years in Louvain-la-Neuve, I needed to find myself in a real city, and Namur did me a lot of good. I had a kot in the pedestrian area with friends, and we met real locals, went to the market... it was very lively. I loved studying in Namur.
