Trust in news has hit a record low. Interest in news is falling, with more people avoiding it altogether. And for the first time, social media and video networks have overtaken TV and news websites as the main way people access news.
These are some of the key findings from the latest Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s Digital News Report – the ‘bible’ for news about the news.
George Orwell is best known for his dystopian novel ‘1984’ and his political fable ‘Animal Farm.’ But among journalists and writers, he is equally famed for a short essay – ‘Politics and the English Language’ – which was published 80 years ago this April.
In his essay, Orwell takes aim at the abuse of political language, which he says consists “largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness” and is “designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.”
But Orwell doesn’t just whine about the state of ‘modern English.’ He also offers a series of writing tips that have become so well-known that 80 years later many British journalists can quote them by heart.
Young people haven’t stopped consuming news, but they have completely changed how they do it. New research from the Reuters Institute shows a decisive shift in habits, expectations and platforms among 18-24-year-olds. For communicators, these changes are more than trends: they’re a roadmap for how to stay relevant in a fast-moving media landscape.
Below, we break down the five key insights from the report – and what they mean for organisations trying to reach younger audiences.
We recently hosted a masterclass on ‘How to Tell Stories That Stick, bringing together communication professionals from across Brussels for an evening focused on practical storytelling techniques.
The session was led by Danny Scheinmann, a bestselling novelist, actor and award-winning screenwriter whose career spans more than three decades. Danny has worked across theatre, film and corporate communication, and has trained organisations such as the WHO, World Bank, Airbus, Microsoft and Unilever. His broad experience shaped a session that was grounded, accessible and highly relevant for anyone looking to strengthen how they communicate.
In a policy environment defined by complexity, competing narratives and shrinking attention spans, one trend is becoming impossible to ignore: storytelling is emerging as the most powerful tool for shaping influence in 2026.
This insight sits at the heart of the 2026 Policy Comms Trends Report by the European Campaign Playbook, a crowdsourced project built from the real experiences of communicators working inside the EU bubble. Gareth Harding, CEO and founder of Clear Europe, contributed to the report, offering his perspective on why stories matter more than ever.
Clear Europe is one of Europe’s leading providers of media and communication training. To help us grow, we are looking for a Manager to run our operations in Brussels.
Our ideal candidate is someone who is highly organised, passionate about clear communication and enthusiastic about promoting our company. You will have at least five years experience working in business development, consultancy, marketing or communication and be comfortable multi-tasking.
6 tips for using TikTok to grow your digital audience
TikTok continues to be one of the most-used social media apps on the planet, especially by young people.
And while some people may shrug it off as a fad, it’s becoming increasingly clear that TikTok is here to stay – for now, at least.
Does this mean everyone needs to drop what they’re doing and start an account right this second? Not necessarily. But TikTok offers so many useful features that it seems crazy to dismiss it altogether.
With that said, let’s explore some of the ways you can use the platform to grow your digital audience. Read More
If you’re someone who tends to shy away from numbers, social media analytics can seem daunting at first.
There are so many things that can be measured, especially when looking across different platforms – so how can you tell what’s worth your time and what isn’t? Read More
Newsletters have become an excellent way to build communities and share content outside of the confines of social media. It seems as though you can subscribe to newsletters on just about any topic these days.
The Brussels Times has a delightful, conversational lunchtime digest, Belgium in Brief; Tom Moylan offers thematic stories, ideas and skills in Speaking Moylanguage; and who can get through a day in the EU Bubble without at least taking a peek at Politico’s Brussels Bible Playbook?
But if you’re looking to create your own newsletter, or simply continue to grow your audience base, how do you get started? Read More
Clarity is at the heart of what we do at Clear Europe – as our name suggests! But what exactly should you do (and not do) when it comes to communicating clearly?
Adapted from a post by our own Gareth Harding, check out our infographic below on the ten commandments for clear communication.
Interested in learning how to communicate more clearly – whether it’s through writing, speaking or using social media? Take a look at our courses and get in touch for a customised quote.