By implementing YouMeCon | kompakt, Jugendpresse Deutschland e.V. pursued the goal of providing young people interested in media between the ages of 16 and 27 with low-threshold, inclusive, and participatory access to the world of media and journalism. The events aimed to strengthen media literacy, facilitate entry into journalistic fields of work, and create a safe space in which practical media work could be tested, reflected upon, and further developed. A central objective of the project was to bring together aspiring journalists and media-enthusiastic young people from diverse educational backgrounds and to offer them a reliable platform for exchange, networking, and mutual support. YouMeCon | kompakt was conceived not merely as a series of one-off events, but as an impetus for a long-term community of young media practitioners that extends beyond the duration of the events in the form of an alumni network and provides sustainable support for entering the media sector. In terms of content, the project aimed to convey both fundamental and advanced media competencies. This included journalistic skills such as research, interviewing, and photojournalism, as well as a reflective approach to current challenges in media work, including disinformation, digital security, algorithmic opinion formation, and the protection of journalists. Through practice-oriented workshops, media tours, and exchange formats, participants were empowered to critically assess media content, produce media responsibly themselves, and reflect on their own role within media discourse. An overarching goal of YouMeCon | kompakt was to enable young people to engage critically, knowledgeably, and responsibly with key societal and media-related issues. Across four events focusing on political journalism, artificial intelligence in journalism, climate journalism, and press freedom, current developments, challenges, and ethical questions in journalism were addressed and examined from multiple perspectives. The aim was to provide participants with a deeper understanding of how journalistic work accompanies democratic processes, shapes public opinion, and responds to broader societal transformations. Furthermore, YouMeCon | kompakt sought to provide young people interested in media with concrete guidance for entering the fields of media and journalism. Through hands-on workshops, media tours, panel discussions, and networking formats, participants gained realistic insights into journalistic professions, working methods, and training pathways. Direct exchanges with journalists, researchers, and other actors from the media sector were intended to lower barriers, highlight career perspectives, and encourage participants to develop their own pathways into journalism. Overall, YouMeCon | kompakt positioned itself as a holistic educational and networking format that combines media literacy, practical experience, and community building. Beyond the individual events, the project aimed to establish a sustainable network of young media practitioners that enables ongoing exchange, mutual support, and continuous learning. In this way, YouMeCon | kompakt contributed to the promotion of emerging journalistic talent and to strengthening a diverse, reflective, and democratic media landscape.