By Ivana Maletin Corilic, RTV

Attending the 20th International Journalism Festival in Perugia was an outstanding professional experience for me, as it was the first time I had the opportunity to meet journalists and speakers from all over the world in one place. For two decades, the festival has been opening important questions and addressing current issues relevant to our profession, and this year was no exception.

It was extremely valuable to hear the perspectives of distinguished participants from leading global media on the impact and use of artificial intelligence in the media landscape, the safety of journalists, freedom of speech, as well as the crisis and transformation of the media. One of the topics discussed was “How to save public service journalism,” which was particularly interesting to me as a representative of Radio Television of Vojvodina. Following contemporary trends in journalism, the organizers also offered a wide range of practical and educational workshops, from podcast creation to mobile journalism.

The festival venues were especially impressive for me as a cultural journalist, as the events take place at some of the most significant historical and cultural sites in the city. They are located in the central core of Perugia, a city filled with greenery, a relaxing atmosphere, and numerous viewpoints, providing space for meeting participants and continuing informal discussions on important topics. The story of the “city of chocolate” inspired me to create a report, as Perugia is home to the famous Perugina chocolate factory, the Perugina Chocolate House, and the Chocolate City Museum – the largest museum in the world dedicated to cocoa.

The festival provided me with an up-to-date picture of the media landscape, new topics for reflection, valuable contacts, and practical tools. I believe that every media organization should send its journalists to this festival each year in order to stay in step with the times and the global media scene.

An excellent introduction to the International Journalism Festival in Perugia was my internship at Deutsche Welle in Bonn. It gave me insight into the functioning and editorial policy of a major international public broadcaster. First, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the Deutsche Welle Akademie, to speak with its representatives about current projects and programs, and to meet members of the Western Balkans team. It was useful to learn about the many opportunities available for journalist mobility and professional development.

After that, I spent time in the newsroom covering Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, where I observed how online articles are produced and edited, how AI is used in everyday work, and how their internal organization and communication function. I also visited the television department in Bonn and saw how part of the radio program for Africa is produced.

The DW headquarters, located in the impressive building of the former parliament, along with their working conditions and organization, were refreshing to me. I used my visit to Bonn to explore Beethoven’s House and many museums, including the world’s first Women’s Museum, about which I created a report.

My grant does not end here, as I am still to attend the 24th Annual International Conference on Communication and Mass Media, organized by the Athens Institute. So far, it has provided me with valuable insights, knowledge, contacts, and has broadened my professional horizons. I believe it is extremely important for the professional growth and development of journalists from the region, who are not often in a position to independently undertake internships or attend major international media events. Additionally, thanks to the grant, our audience has been enriched with engaging reports from across Europe.

Funded by the European Union, the Innovation. Media. Minds Program: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans, is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with its implementing partner DW Akademie. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.