Two journalism students will go from BSchool to the Beehive after being picked for the prestigious 2025 New Zealand Youth Press Gallery.
Aleksandra Bogdanova (19) and Reuben Smith (22), both in their second year of journalism training at the New Zealand Broadcasting School, were stoked to be selected for the honour.
“I found out on the way back from reporting on a fire,” Aleksandra said.
“I was just checking my emails….I was so excited, I ran back to the newsroom and was like ‘did you get it?”
The Youth Press Gallery runs alongside the New Zealand Youth Parliament, organised by the Ministry of Youth Development.
It gives young people aged between 16-24 the chance to serve as either Youth MPs or journalists in the Youth Press Gallery, spending time at Parliament and learning how New Zealand’s government works.
Both Aleksandra and Reuben jumped at the chance to apply for the gallery this year.
“I’ve always had a passion for politics and reporting on politics, and political journalism, and I saw the opportunity as a great way to have some first-hand experience of doing that,” Reuben said.
“I also have a really strong passion for politics, writing, and social issues in particular, and seeing how laws can effect that on the ground with the people around me,” Aleksandra added.
The pair will join 18 other Youth Press Gallery members at Parliament in July, reporting on the activities of Youth Parliament.
Getting the chance to meet MPs and Press Gallery journalists is something Aleksandra is looking forward to.
“Being there, getting the chance to make those connections, that’s one of the intrinsic things to our craft,” she said.
Reuben agreed.
“Just being there, in the flesh, is going to be such a surreal and rewarding experience and such a great opportunity, I’m really looking forward to it.”
