A key meeting on the energy transition
The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue is an annual forum where government officials, ministers, business leaders, and renewable energy experts from around the world discuss the future of the energy transition.
At the same time, the BETD Media Fellowship enables a select group of journalists to attend the event, conduct interviews, and report on key issues in their home countries.
“They selected 15 journalists from around the world— 15 out of more than 1,000 applicants; I think there were 1,200 or 1,300,” Tatiana Scherz noted.
The participants came from various regions, including the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with representatives from countries such as Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, the United States, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
A key step in a journalist's career
The selection process for the BETD Media Fellowship was highly competitive.
Tatiana Scherz, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a concentration in Journalism from the School of Communication at Universidad ORT Uruguay, was one of those selected.
Since April 2022, she has been working at the newspaper El País, where she joined the Sustainability team in 2024, covering topics such as climate change, the energy transition, and the circular economy.
Previously, he contributed to the Wellness and Lifestyle sections and published articles in publications such as El Observador and La Diaria.
In addition, in 2020, he completed a specialized training course titled “Communication in Times of Change ” at the University of Salamanca in Spain.
The Uruguayan journalist was encouraged by her editor to apply, given her interest and experience in covering the energy transition in the media.
“I saw that it was for young journalists and, on top of that, it was in the field of the energy transition, which is what I’m covering right now at the newspaper,” she explained.
To apply, he submitted his resume, some of his previous articles, and a cover letter.
The main themes of the BETD
The event covered various aspects of the energy transition, ranging from solar power to battery storage and green hydrogen.
Strategies for accelerating the transition in different regions of the world were discussed.
“At these events where world leaders and officials gather, it’s essential that people know what’s being discussed—that it doesn’t take place behind closed doors,” the journalist remarked.
He also emphasized the importance of information in the energy transition:
If people don't trust it and resist the changes, it's going to be much harder. So, staying informed is important in order to support that transition.
Lessons learned and enriching experiences
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to interact with other journalists from around the world.
“For me, the most rewarding part of this whole experience was interacting with the other journalists. I’d never been on a trip like this before where I could connect with people from such different cultures, ”he shared.
The event also gave him an opportunity to reflect on the state of journalism in various countries.
“Many of the journalists I spoke with told me that they don’t have as much freedom to work in other countries, that they receive threats, or that they even have colleagues who were jailed simply for publishing certain stories.”
She also discovered other opportunities for journalists on the international stage: “I learned that there are plenty of opportunities we’re not aware of. I came away with some names of other events you can sign up for, and that motivates me to keep moving forward in my career.”
A boost for environmental journalism
Participating in the BETD Media Fellowship reaffirmed the importance of journalism in raising awareness about environmental issues and the energy transition.
The journalist emphasized that events like this strengthen journalism and foster interest in these issues on a global scale.
The experience also highlights the importance of training and international opportunities for journalists, encouraging more professionals to apply for similar programs in the future.
Learn more about the Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Content Creation