Jérôme's ecological adventure from car rally to bicycle-reportage

I joined TBS Education in 2008 to study market finance. That's where I made my first fork in the road.

At the time, I discovered a company that wanted to develop a student rally-raid. I became interested in the project and understood that work could be a real adventure. It was then that something clicked. As early as my first year, I told myself that I wanted to live a life of adventure and travel. I put my heart and soul into the project through internships, voluntary work and student associations.

I started out in the same company as a volunteer, then became an intern, and finally landed a permanent contract. For more than 10 years, I've worked in this field in two areas: organization, as a project manager, and then communication, with training in audiovisual. I work with a wide range of people, including directors, editors and TV journalists. Over the years, I've discovered that I want to share and tell stories. At first via articles, then via a TV program I created and hosted, always for car rallies. I had a blast for 10 years and lived it to the full.

As time went by, environmental and social issues came to the fore all around me and I became more aware of things. I researched and informed myself about the impact of mankind and the progress of this change. Until one day, on a trip to the Auvergne, I realized that I was going to be surrounded by more and more greenery. All I saw was drought. I talked to farmers who were struggling to cope with summers that had become too hot for their crops. I realize that the climate has changed. It's 2019 and I realize that nobody is talking about the real state of things in France. I decide to reinvent myself and become an agent of positive change.

I took six months to reorganize everything and live without fossil fuels, which was a real challenge because I lived and worked with them every day... I chose to reorient myself while keeping what I was passionate about: transmitting.

In January 2020, I'm leaving everything behind and branching out again to find a new career. To do this, I'm taking stock of what I know how to do and what drives me. I knew I wanted to keep a job that told stories and communicated. I had the idea of linking it with my new awareness. My aim is to work for the general good by raising awareness of the reality of things and the more sustainable solutions to be found.

To become a reporter in an environmentally friendly way, I'm looking for ways to do it without using fossil fuels. So I rediscovered the bicycle, in particular the solar-powered electric bicycle. I tested this solution on a few trips, and adopted it not only for its neutrality, but also for its practicality and the pleasure it brings.

In July 2020, I embarked on my first project: 100 km around Avignon. Its aim was to help me learn to travel around my home without over-consuming. To give it even more meaning, I'm going to meet local producers, because 100 km is also the distance of the short circuit. I produced 10 episodes myself. This adventure has been extraordinary, and has given me much more than any other I've done in the four corners of the globe. I'm realizing a lot of things. I'm continuing my transition and creating my own profession. I became a vélo-reporter, a term I coined, and launched myself 100% by bike or by train and folding bike. I'm multiplying projects around the ecological transition to make it desirable across France.

I continue to enjoy my adventures while showing the general public that ecology allows us to reinvent our daily lives by putting people at the heart of it all, with as little fossil fuel as possible. My actions are making sense again.

I've become self-taught in the various skills that my profession encompasses. I'm training in audiovisual and organizational skills, and above all in the agricultural themes I'm going to talk about. Each of my projects is a continuation of what I've learned. It's by going out to meet farmers that I discover their needs and trades, and come up with topics for future episodes.

For some projects, I'm accompanied by partners who provide me with financing, knowledge, equipment and defined itineraries according to the subjects chosen.

I move from one theme to another, which requires me to research, understand and exchange, but also allows me to learn every day from the people who promote this positive ecological approach.

Alone or as part of a team, I set out to meet those who are making things happen, or who need things to happen. I've already completed 5 projects in different formats and on different subjects, but always by bike.

My first challenge was to figure out how to do more with less. I reorganized my daily life and invented my job as a vélo-reporter. I had to train and adapt myself to respect my values, my desires, my objectives and be able to make a living from it. I also had to make sure that lack of means wasn't an obstacle. I had to educate myself without becoming an expert in many areas in order to embark on this adventure, both professionally and ecologically.

When I chose to do everything by bike, I realized the facilities it requires. It's a very good ecological alternative, but it also has its limits.

For my projects, I go from one theme to another, which is no easy task. Each time, I have to relearn and rediscover everything. Some subjects are high-stakes and complex; to talk about them, you really need to be aware of that and to have immersed yourself in it as much as possible.

Don't be afraid, and have the courage to branch out. If your project changes, if your desires are elsewhere, follow them and launch yourself!

Know that whatever you undertake, if you do it with passion, if you're aligned with yourself, you'll succeed.