Up close in the barbershop: Young migrants break the silence!

Up close in the barbershop: Young migrants break the silence!

The Austrian editorial team “Die Chefredaktion” is breaking new ground to reach young migrant men who are often overlooked in traditional reporting. The founder Melisa Erkurt emphasizes: “No medium specifically addresses young migrant men; they are hardly picked up by the reporting.” In an innovative approach, a familiar space is created in the barbershop in which young men can openly exchange ideas about their concerns, fears and perspectives. This initiative is called Pages to Zero and is streamed live from Edos Barbers every third Thursday of the month. Here, important topics are raised while the camera rolls, and the conversations promote authentic discussion within a community of often misunderstood individuals. The idea is to use the barbershops as social meeting places to talk to young men and not only entertain them, but also encourage them.

Viral content and strategic expansion

At the same time, the format “Brother, tell me honestly!” growing popularity. According to reports from diechefredaktion.at, viral videos with up to 900,000 views have already shown how important it is to listen to the voices of these men. In order to further intensify contact with the target group, the editorial team is planning a variety of new formats, training and further education programs for young male editors for 2025, as well as an increased presence on platforms that this target group uses. The editor-in-chief has only been active since 2021, but has already achieved high reach on Instagram and TikTok, where she has gained over 80,000 followers. Supported by Wiener Zeitung's Media Innovation Lab, the team aims to create balanced content that reflects the reality of Generation Z, fighting against stereotypical portrayals of masculinity on social media.

In a country where many young migrants often feel isolated, “The Editor-in-Chief” brings a breath of fresh air and a strong sense of belonging. The journalistic work has not only won numerous awards, but has also noticeably increased its influence on the Austrian media landscape. According to Erkurt, the goal is clear: journalism that is diverse, accessible and, above all, relevant to the young people it wants to reach. The innovative approach will continue to draw attention and bring many new voices into the media landscape to promote real conversations about the issues that matter to this generation.

Source: OTS and More information at diechefredaktion.at.