Political journalist from the Danish School of Media and Journalism in Aarhus and Carleton University in Ottawa. Experience from the Danish Parliament and the European Parliament in Brussels.
I have covered elections in Türkiye, Poland and Finland as a freelancer for the Danish and Finnish Union of Journalists, Euroman, EUobserver, Are We Europe, Jyllands-Posten, Zetland, Femina and others. Moreover, I have participated in political podcasts and given lectures about my work.
Email birk@kotkas.dk
Phone (+45) 61 33 50 13
Languages
Danish (C2), Finnish (C1),
English (C1), French (B1)
Birk Sebastian Kotkas
CV
WORK EXPERIENCE
DANISH VETERINARY AND FOOD ADMINISTRATION
Press Advisor
Copenhagen
March 2024 - today
Political Communication
Advising professionals in press communication and answering inquiries from journalists. Communicating on the Official Danish Dietary Guidelines.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Press Officer (Schuman Trainee)
Brussels, Belgium
October 2023 - February 2024
European Politics
Contributed to the press unit's contact with Danish correspondents in Brussels and covered the Environment Committee and plenary sessions through press releases, newsletters and briefings.
SELF EMPLOYED
Freelance Journalist
Istanbul, Warsaw, Helsinki etc.
August 2023 - today
October 2023
Visited Poland as a prelude to the parliamentary elections in autumn 2023. Wrote about topics such as press freedom for Are We Europe, Altinget and the Danish and Finnish Journalists' Unions.
July 2023
Visited the Finnish-Russian border, where a new barrier fence is under construction. Wrote a report for Kristeligt Dagblad.
May 2023
Covered the Turkish elections for Danish international media: Including RTV (Slovak radio and TV station), Radio4, 24 syv and Frihedsbrevet.
April 2023
Covered parliamentary elections and Finland’s entry into NATO for Jyllands-Posten and Danish national television (TV2).
December 2022 - March 2023
Traveled in Türkiye as a prelude to the presidential elections with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. I wrote a series of articles on press freedom, migration and the Istanbul Convention.
Public lectures
10+ public lectures for students and grown-ups about Poland, Türkiye and the EU.
ALTINGET
Journalist og Debate Editor
The Danish Parliament
August 2020 - June 2022
Debate Editor
As a debate editor, I was responsible for opinion pieces related to Sports and Education. I edited more than 300 opinion pieces and columns and coordinated 12 thematic debates with key actors on different political issues.
Journalist in Altinget's newsroom
I contributed to the daily news coverage for Altinget's main newssite (altinget.dk). Covered the impeachment case against former minister Inger Støjberg.
Journalist covering energy and climate politics
Covered Danish and European climate and environmental politics from the Danish Parliament. Wrote a portrait of department head Lars Frelle and covered the work of the Eldrup Commission.
RÆSON
Journalist
Copenhagen
maj 2019 - juli 2021
Journalist
I conducted a series of interviews with leading scientists and experts about political agendas such as European security policy and tax evasion.
EDUCATION
Aarhus
2018 - 2022
Danish School of Media and Journalism
Bachelor of Journalism
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Completed courses in the EU and Investigative Journalism.
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Exchange at Carleton University and internship at Altinget.
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Co-founder of the radio-program World Citizens on Radio Genlüd.
Carleton University
Exchange
Ottawa, Canada
2019
Exchange semester (30 ECTS) in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, during the 2019 Canadian federal election - which I covered for Ræson.
Classes
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World Politics
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Politics of Migration
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Canadian Political Institutions
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Studying Canada
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Study of Canadian Culture
Rysensteen Gymnasium
High School Diploma
Copenhagen
2014 - 2017
Political Study Programme.
Completed the Global Citizenship Programme focusing on Turkey.
