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Words from the streets
Once you’re here, it’s a pretty tight professional community and job opportunities seem to get passed around fairly informally. “I feel privileged to be covering local issues rather than EU issues as it’s really helped me get to know and understand the country better – although I’m not sure anyone could ever claim to really understand Belgium.”
The NUJ’s Brussels branch meets monthly and has about 100 members – mostly freelance – reporters, correspondents, editors, photographers, broadcasters and PR professionals. Freelance journalist Sara Lewis says a lot of work comes from B2B publications in Europe (including the UK and Ireland) and the US. The European Commission can provide work, including writing and editing newsletters, brochures and leaflets. “But it’s not as lucrative as it was when I started here in the late 1980s/early ’90s,” says Sara.
Where the work is
The major newswires, including Reuters, Bloomberg and AP, have correspondents in Brussels, while the FT and Wall Street Journal have large bureaus. The International New York Times, Times, Guardian and Daily Telegraph have a presence, as does the BBC. Many ex-pat journalists
write for English language publications that cover EU affairs. Politico publishes European affairs bimonthly Politico Magazine (previously European Voice) plus daily news and opinion online. EU Reporter is an online
magazine and TV channel covering news, analysis and comment on EU affairs. EurActiv is a pan-
European network specialising in EU policies, with 12 websites in local languages.
EUobserver is a non-
profit online newspaper. There’s also Ackroyd
Publications, whose titles include news website The Bulletin, Newcomer magazine and Flanders Today. Most writing is done by freelances. A lot of freelance work is
in PR and communications for NGOs, lobbies and agencies. In Brussels, there are
several Dutch language newspapers as well as French language papers, including Le Soir. The public broadcasters
are VRT (Flemish public broadcasting) and RTBF (public broadcasting in French), and there are commercial channels. The Dutch language TV station is tvbrussel and the radio station FM Brussel; the French language TV station is BX1.
Martin, a journalist for 36 years, has found work in the city has diminished. The result is “a lot of journos looking for work, i.e. a lot of fish in an ever-diminishing pond”. Many journalists move into PR and communications. “There are thousands of lobbies and European associations, apart from the EU institutions and political groups in the European Parliament, all employing teams of communications professionals,” says Sara. Freelance photographer Simon Pugh lived in Brussels for 16 years. Now in Maastricht in the Netherlands, he commutes to Brussels almost weekly to cover events in the city. “There is a lot of work although, of course, there is a lot of competition,” he says. “The main areas of work centre around the major EU institutions – annually there are something like 60,000 EU-related events organised throughout the city.” Brussels has a population of just 1.1 million, with many nationalities and cultures mixed together. “It’s easy to live in the countryside as I do but be able to follow the EU beat,” says Sara. “The Belgians are fun and welcoming, especially in the sticks. The location and small size of Belgium means that in two hours in any direction you are abroad.” “As a relatively small, very international city, Brussels is incredibly welcoming to foreigners – the Belgians are, in general, very welcoming and open,” says Peter. Other positives are its famous beer, range of restaurants and the high quality of childcare, education and healthcare. Simon highlights “the comprehensive public transport
system that is readily available and cheap … the fantastic food, efficient rail services, a wonderful melting pot of cultures”. However, for Peter, an American, Belgium’s bureaucracy and
lack of customer service can prove tricky: “I’ve lived in Europe off and on for 10 years ... the worst I’ve ever encountered!” Sally adds: “Everyday administrative tasks that you’d expect to be able to do online actually require you to take a day off work and stand in a queue, only to be told you’ve brought the wrong papers and need to come back a week later.” Simon mentions the “abysmal customer service, especially at public services such as the post office, police and, worst of all, the railways. Horrendous congestion. A somewhat limited (and sometimes difficult-to-find) English-speaking culture. And if you don’t speak just a little bit of French, you may struggle.” According to Sally, the city can very laid back: “There’s just no sense of urgency. A tram driver will stop driving to jump out and buy a croissant from the bakery over the road. Shops don’t open on Sundays or evenings. I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing – in lots of ways it’s charming and refreshing – but it does mean you have to plan things more than in the UK. “I feel lucky to be living here and having the chance to meet people from all over the world. The cultural scene is terrific – so many museums, galleries, music venues, arthouse cinemas and festivals. They also take eating and drinking seriously here, and I respect that.”
Freelance journalist Sally Tipper: “After the initial shock and grief, it’s become a little unreal. It’s hard to believe it happened in our home. For the most part, people have responded with solidarity, defiance and eventually humour. And life has gone on, because what else can you do?”
Peter Spiegel, Brussels bureau chief at the Financial Times: “Brussels probably has the lowest property prices of any major city in Europe, making it exceedingly liveable, particularly on a journalist’s salary.”
Freelance journalist Martin Banks: “As a city, it is a bit devoid of any real ‘sights’. The shopping is also not a patch on that in some UK cities but, having said that, if you make the effort, it has more than enough diversity for a city of this size. Don’t take it at face value.”
Freelance journalist Sara Lewis: “How would I describe Belgium in five words? Multicultural, green, international, stimulating and welcoming.”
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