Meet our MIJ-students

Eden Maclachlan, France

Background 

Eden grew up in France where he studied metrology at IUT Saint-Nazaire and earned his bachelor's degree in physics and chemistry at Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse. In 2019, he moved to Gothenburg for exchange studies through Erasmus. 

- I do miss a lot of the culture in France, but I enjoy living in Gothenburg. Swedish education has a better balance than French. You have time for a part-time job or other activities in your free time, says Eden. 

Eden first studied a master's in environmental sciences, focusing on Oceanography, at the Faculty of Science at the University of Gothenburg. He found it very interesting, but felt that job opportunities were limited to working in research.  

At the same time, he got involved with the student radio K103 where he developed a passion for journalism. A few years later, he decided to change paths and applied to JMG's international master's program in investigative journalism (MIJ). 

Studies at JMG 

Eden enjoys his time at JMG. He finds the classic Annedalsseminariet, a building about 150 years old, and the much newer Mediehuset, built and specially designed for JMG about ten years ago, to be pleasant environments. There are many different places to study, both alone and with others. 

According to Eden, the education is varied, with a good balance between lectures and independent work. Some assignments are group projects while others are individual. 

One course he particularly appreciated was investigative journalism in digital environments, where he learned much of the basics of investigative journalism. 

- I study with people from many different countries, and during the program, you make connections with people in other countries that you wouldn't have otherwise, says Eden who describs the program as very international. 

Future 

In addition to his studies, Eden currently works as an editor and project manager at the student radio K103. He helps other students start their own programs, something he enjoys. 

In the future, he wants to use his knowledge from different fields in his work. He is particularly interested in data journalism and visualization. 

Eden's tips for future students: 

- Apply to the program! If you wans to work with investigative journalism, it's great. You learn a lot of useful things, and the program opens many doors. 

Text: Elin Andersson & Annie Rolén 

Yuliia Kyzyk, Ukraine 

Background 

Yuliia Kyzyk is from Ukraine and chose to study at JMG through The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP). She was interested in studying in one of the Nordic countries, mainly because of their excellent journalism and high level of freedom of expression. 

She ultimately chose Sweden because her friend was studying in Malmö through the same scholarship and had a good experience. However, moving to Sweden was not easy, especially when the war had just broken out. 

- It was difficult to leave, but I really wanted to continue my education. There isn't a big cultural difference, and it's easy to talk to people here. Swedes are very aware of the situation in Ukraine, probably because of the freedom of information here, says Yuliia. 

Before starting at JMG, Yuliia earned a bachelor's degree in international journalism from Ivan Franko National University in Lviv and worked as a journalist and digital producer in Ukraine. She has always had a passion for literature and writing. 

- It's my thing. I got to try journalism early on through the school newspaper and got hooked. 

Studies at JMG 

Studying at JMG has been an intense but rewarding experience for Yuliia. A typical day at JMG starts with a cup of coffee and the first lesson. After a break or lunch, she talks a lot with her fellow students before the next lesson. 

- It's nice to have lectures every day. We have many practical assignments – you learn by doing. 

The education is structured and divided into different subjects, making it easy to follow. One course that particularly stood out is data journalism. 

- It was intimidating with all the numbers at first, but it was very interesting. The program is broader than I thought, says Yuliia. 

The best part of JMG's international master's program in investigative journalism (MIJ), according to Yuliia, is the breadth of journalism. One of the highlights was a trip to Brussels where she had the opportunity to talk to politicians in the European parliament. 

Future 

Today, Yuliia works at Sveriges Radio on the Ukrainian desk and also freelances for some Ukrainian media, which she enjoys. She is also considering pursuing a PhD in journalism in the future. 

Yuliia's tip for those considering applying to MIJ is to have some practical experience in journalism, primarily gaining experience in journalism by adhering to journalistic standards and ethics. This includes working with fact-checking and exploring various media genres such as TV, radio, and newspapers. 

Text: Elin Andersson & Annie Rolén