Too old?

At the end of last week,one of my tutors from UCLAN sent an email to all third year students with information on an upcoming European Youth Media Day.

The event takes place in Brussels during October and according to the information

the next generation of European journalists will meet at the European Parliament in Brussels for the second edition of the European Youth Media Days. Hosted by the European Parliament and organised with the support of the European Youth Press, the gathering of 200 emerging journalists will promote discussion on a variety of European issues. Participants will confront, provoke, and interact with other perspectives and realities, while networking with their peers.

Sounding like a good opportunity,I went to look at the web site and unfortunately found that you were unable to apply if you were born before 1970.

Thus the European Union has defined "young as being under 38.

Now this is the second time in a matter of weeks when a youthful 44 year old has been unable to partake in journalistic networking,being denied entry to the young journalists blogging ring where the age there was determined at 30.

Is this I wonder what is going to happen to me this time next year when I enter the job market?Is age going to be an issue in this era of positive age discrimination.Is it going to be a positive thing in bringing my life experience to the media environment?

So what is this age thing.Who decides when young is no longer young but old?