In August, YMCA Ireland hosted the dynamic Pulse Z event in Cork City, bringing together over 100 young people passionate about media, journalism, and content creation. Held in partnership with the UCC ACM Student Chapter and Matrix Internet, the one-day workshop series was a hub of hands-on, experiential learning focused on building the next generation of youth media creators.

The event took place on 12 August 2025 at the Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, and was specifically aimed at young people aged 13–25 who have an interest in content creation, digital skills, and want to have their voices heard. Participants used a range of digital skills, including videography, photography, podcasting, and AI, to explore and create meaningful content.

The energy was high as participants immersed themselves in a range of inspiring sessions and workshops designed to sharpen their skills and critical thinking:

• Storytelling Through Video: This creative workshop, hosted by freelance filmmakers Seán Downey and Naty Abi Negash, taught participants the basics of visual storytelling – from scripting and shooting to editing and sharing.
• Podcasting DIY: Hosted by Kinia, educators for young people, this hands-on session guided attendees through the essentials of podcasting – from choosing your topic and format to recording, editing, and publishing – proving you can host your own show with confidence, no fancy equipment required.
• Interviewing Skills for Video & Audio: Broadcasters Jonathan Healy and Jamie O’Hara took participants through a deep dive into the art of asking the right questions, sharing what it’s like to be a journalist, how the field has evolved, and the growth of digital journalism.
• Critical & Digital Literacy: TV presenter and activist Emer O’Neill hosted this vital session, which unpacked how media, language, and information shape our understanding of the world. Key themes included Disinformation and Misinformation, encouraging everyone to look critically between the digital lines and challenge bias and assumptions.
• Break the Code (AI Security): Hosted by the UCC Computer Science department and the ACM Student Chapter, this workshop, facilitated by Marlon Jesús Ares Milián and David Shanahan, focused on AI Security and jailbreaking large language models. Using the interactive platform Gandalf AI, participants experimented with prompt engineering and explored the risks around sharing personal data with AI systems, proving the human element remains key in the age of AI.
  
  

A Participant’s Perspective: Capturing the Energy

Rowan, a young participant, attended the event to document the day, giving them a unique snapshot of every workshop.

“As the day began and people started arriving, I could feel the energy grow,” Rowan noted. “Friends were catching up and speculating on the day to come. I got the opportunity to ask some questions and hear people’s expectations and hopes for the day. When asked what was one of the most important aspects of the day, most people highlighted the importance of education for young people surrounding technology and media, as it is forever expanding.”

Throughout the workshops, Rowan observed attendees mastering new skills, “from creating and editing scenes in the Storytelling Through Video workshop, to interacting with AI in Break the Code.” During the break, responses about the experience were overwhelmingly positive.

Later, Rowan saw participants in Podcasting DIY trying out recording equipment, gained knowledge of public speaking in Interviewing Skills for Video & Audio, and learned about biases and source-checking in the Critical & Digital Literacy workshop. The day concluded with workshop facilitators sharing their thoughts—a great way to bring the energy down. Rowan concluded that the importance of hearing youth voices was a constant and vital topic throughout the event.

The day kicked off with an Opening Plenary that included a welcome and introduction to Pulse Z by YMCA Ireland CEO John Peacock and Youth Advocacy Officer TJ Hourihan. This was followed by a powerful AI presentation from UCC’s Nicola Rossberg, Chairperson of the local ACM chapter, who delivered a keynote on the dangers of Bias in AI and how participants interact with AI daily through chatbots, social media, and streaming platform algorithms. YMCA Ireland Youth Advocacy Assistant, Mark Healy, delivered a Pulse Z training module along with a presentation on the platform and signup. The day concluded with a Closing Plenary featuring keynote speakers Professor Dirk Pesch, Emer O’Neill, and Jamie O’Hara.

This fantastic event successfully blended topics of traditional journalism with emerging technologies like AI, providing a safe and creative space for young adults to build visual narratives and sharpen their critical thinking. A huge thank you to everyone who joined, helping to shape the future of Europe’s media within the Pulse Z community!

Visit the Pulse Z platform at www.pulse-z.eu