Media play special role in the education of the young generation. It is very important for every journalist to have high morality, unconventional and flexible thinking, to be responsible for his words and to observe professional ethics when covering events. Can children develop these qualities from an early age, write for newspapers, host radio and TV shows and prepare for journalists? Yes, this is possible and happens at the Junior Journalists Club in Sofia.

The club was founded in 2003 in the city of Sliven (Southeast Bulgaria). It was part of the former Omega Radio. Radio Journalist Kosta Cholakov used to invite children at his radio show. They had their own rubrics at this radio, made reportages and learned the main principles in journalism. Two years later the radio was sold and the club seized its activity only to revive again in Sofia in 2012.

This is an extracurricular form of education in English, dances and other subjects which continues until the 12^th grade, Kosta Cholakov explains. Each lesson begins with organizational procedures. At the end of the lesson we start practicing- children become hosts, invent situations, make analyses and hold discussions. I teach them the basic things in journalism- to do news, polls, reportages and interviews. I try to prove that little children can do journalism. We perceive journalism as science and the children gain useful knowledge in these classes.

Currently children from 1^st to 6^th grade visit the club. They are very bright and curious, ready to open up new horizons, ask questions and look for answers. These children participated in several radio and TV broadcasts, including the Bulgarian National Radio. They will be part of the programme table of a private Bulgarian TV broadcaster. Children have the will which has to be maintained with practicing, Kosta Cholakov went on to say. Children can manage. Sometimes they act in a child way, sometimes they do things in depth. They can do everything, if they have someone to guide them, journalist Kosta Cholakov contends.

The Junior Journalists Club does not have enough financing to buy the necessary technical equipment to make reportages, but the children rush boldly in the adventure called journalism and make phone recordings.

In my view journalism is a very interesting profession. We learn many interesting things about Bulgaria and the world as a whole, eleven-year-old Victoria told Radio Bulgaria. Victoria presented a professional poll which was done together with her classmates. Katerina is twelve. She dreams of becoming a sports journalist and likes to cover sports events. Soon she will start practicing volleyball and tennis. Eight-year-old Emin has been visiting the Junior Journalists Club for fifteen weeks now. We write a lot and make various improvisations and I like it, Emin says. Valentin is almost ten. He has already done news and interviews and likes doing both. Journalists must not be rude, must always be careful and must know things in details. Moreover, the journalist must not abuse alcohol and be a good person, says Valentin. What is the most important thing ten-year-old Denislava learnt at the club? I learned interesting things and what radio people really do. In the beginning I thought that radio is a group of people who stay in a room with many computers and broadcast music. However, I was quite wrong. It is much more than that. Here is what twelve-year-old Pressian told radio Bulgaria: I started to like journalism, especially sports journalism, at a very early age when I was still in first grade. I like to participate in events, to cover and analyze sports events and football games. Mr Cholakov taught us to be patient. We must be patient and tenacious and always want to achieve more.

You mean more than a gold medal to me, Kosta Cholakov often tells children. He does his best to make them decent people and good journalists. Good luck dear little colleagues!

English version: Kostadin Atanasov