LEARNING BY DOING
How young creators learn at TMN
Ivan Martínez interviewing Baby Pantera at Sónar Festival, Barcelona.
What happens when a 17-year-old is trusted with real responsibility instead of simulations?
NEW YORK | Teens Media Network
That question sits at the center of the latest episode of TMN Creative Thinking, where TMN creator Ivan Martínez reflects on his experience covering festivals such as Primavera Sound and Sónar Barcelona after more than a year learning through real assignments and mentorship.
Interviewed by TMN founder Pablo Herrera during TMN's coverage of Sónar Barcelona 2026, Martínez explains how working on interviews, photography and editorial projects has transformed the way he understands journalism, creativity and professional growth. Rather than describing a classroom, he describes an environment where learning comes from responsibility, practice and repetition.
One of the biggest changes, he says, has been discovering the difference between learning about something and actually doing it.
“You don’t really realize it when someone explains how to photograph a concert. You realize it when you’re actually there.”
For Martínez, that learning became especially clear inside the photo pit. His first concert felt overwhelming, standing between the audience and the artist while sharing a small space with dozens of photographers. Over time, experience replaced anxiety, teaching him not only how to photograph performances but also how to work alongside other professionals.
Pictures below: Ivan Martínez's first assignment with TMN: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Primavera Tours, Barcelona, Spain. Tap any image to enlarge.
The conversation also explores responsibility.
Instead of completing assignments simply to receive a grade, Martínez explains that publishing work for a real audience completely changes the way young creators approach their work.
“In a class you’re doing the work to get a grade. Here you feel it’s useful because it’s something real.”
That sense of purpose, he argues, makes the learning experience more meaningful because every article, photograph and interview becomes part of a real publication rather than a classroom exercise.
Another important theme is opportunity.
Reflecting on traditional internships, Martínez questions whether many young people are ever trusted with meaningful responsibilities early in their careers. Instead of spending months observing others, he believes creators grow when they're given the chance to contribute from the beginning.
“If you don’t give someone an opportunity, you’ll never know whether they’re better than the person doing the job today.”
Pictures below: Iván Martínez's photography at Sónar Festival, Barcelona. Charlotte de Witte and Skepta. Tap any image to enlarge.
For him, that opportunity has meant covering international festivals, interviewing artists and gradually discovering where his own strengths lie—not through simulations, but through real projects with real consequences.
Ultimately, Martínez's experience illustrates one of the central ideas behind the TMN method: learning happens through creating, making mistakes and taking responsibility for work that reaches real audiences.
Watch the full conversation on the Teens Media Network YouTube channel.
This conversation was recorded during TMN's coverage of Sónar Barcelona 2026 and is available in Spanish on our YouTube channel. English subtitles can be enabled in YouTube settings.
