Building Sustainable Public Media through Regional Cooperation

By Andrea Juhas, RTV

Five Days – Four Seasons in Sarajevo

As part of the IMM mobility program, I spent the first phase of the program in Sarajevo between March 24 and 29, 2026. The primary goal of the trip was to visit BHRT, based in Sarajevo, gain insight into the work of its editorial departments, and learn about the challenges and difficulties related to program production.

I got in touch with the person responsible for international relations, Rialda Ocuz, whom I had met in June 2025 during a training in Montenegro. She welcomed me with great enthusiasm and guided me through the different departments of the television. I had the opportunity to learn about the religious programming editorial team, the daily news and news broadcast departments, and activities related to international programming. Beyond this, I gained a much deeper understanding of the place itself—Sarajevo, the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the impact of historical events on present-day life. For me, the most important takeaway was that public service media outlets with limited budgets should focus on building cooperation among themselves. By joining forces, they can share their own documentary productions and other media content. Additionally, by participating as members in various international organizations, they can gain access to low-cost yet high-quality media content. In the future, cooperation among public service media in the region will become increasingly important, as it is key to their sustainability and to increasing viewership. At the same time, expanding the target audience remains a crucial task, which can be achieved, among other things, by broadcasting high-quality content.

Together with the staff of BHRT, we agreed to propose to the management of RTV the possibility and importance of joining international organizations, as well as to initiate the drafting of a cooperation agreement with BHRT. In addition to my visit to BHRT, I also had the opportunity to meet with the staff of the Goethe-Institute in Sarajevo, who have generously and significantly contributed to the smooth implementation of the program. During my stay, I visited numerous historical landmarks, learned about the city’s past and present, and also experienced how unpredictable the weather in Sarajevo can be. I arrived in almost early-summer conditions and left in true winter weather—all within just five days.

Slovenia – A Green European Country – An Example for All

The main part of my Goethe-Institut international mobility grant was spent in Slovenia, in the small town of Lendava, located at the tri-border area of Slovenia, Hungary, and Croatia. I chose this location because I was interested in learning how a minority community in a European Union member state can preserve its identity and exercise its rights, particularly regarding access to information in its mother tongue.

Lendava is situated about three hours by bus from Ljubljana, in the northeastern part of the country. My stay lasted 15 days, from 2 May to 16 May 2026. I spent the first and last two days in Ljubljana, while the remaining time was dedicated to Lendava, where the Hungarian-language production center of the public media institution Radio Television Slovenia (RTV Slovenia) is located.

At my very first meeting with the editors-in-chief of both the television and radio departments, we quickly established a friendly relationship and exchanged experiences regarding work processes, programme production, as well as common challenges and issues. During my initial visit, colleagues guided me through the television and radio facilities, giving me insight into the studios and control rooms. I also attended editorial meetings where journalists discussed plans for the upcoming week and reflected on their recent field reporting experiences. The organisation of work is planned on a weekly basis, which I found comparable to the operation of correspondent offices in Vojvodina. The radio programme is broadcast 24 hours a day. Live programming begins at 5:30 a.m. and continues until 10:00 p.m. The station covers a wide range of topics, including news, healthcare, youth affairs, sports, and more. They frequently host interactive programmes, inviting not only representatives of various institutions but also prominent members of the local community. I noticed that their approach to radio production is very similar to that of the Second Programme of Radio Television of Vojvodina, with journalists spending significant time in the field producing live reports and features.

Television programming consists of various 30-minute programmes broadcast four times a week. These programmes cover numerous topics, with particular emphasis on events and developments relevant to the Hungarian community in the Prekmurje region.

What impressed me most was the family-like atmosphere within the entire media house. The staff maintain excellent relationships with institutions throughout Lendava and the surrounding area, enabling them to rely on local representatives whenever they need support for reporting and production activities.

I had the opportunity to join production teams in the field, covering a wide variety of events ranging from culinary and entertainment programmes to conferences and educational lectures. While working on location, I decided to bring a television programme from Lendava to my home audience. Within a very short time, I organised and recorded more than ten interviews and reports together with a cameraman from Lendava, focusing on the life and importance of the Hungarian community in the town. I edited the programme in the premises of RTV Slovenia and produced a one-hour television feature, which can be watched here: https://media.rtv.rs/hu/jo-estet-vajdasag/110388.

In addition, I prepared a report for the programme Napjaink, in which I reflected on the current state of Hungarian-language media. The report is available at: https://media.rtv.rs/hu/napjaink/110373. My main goal was to gain insight into the operation of a minority television and radio service within a European Union country and to explore opportunities for cross-border cooperation between two public media institutions.

We strengthened this connection by establishing a monthly exchange of reports related to minority communities. Our contributions are broadcast in the programme Határtalan (“Without Borders”), while Vendégem (“My Guest”) is aired once a month on the Slovenian public broadcaster's channels.

In addition to my television-related work, I also had the opportunity to attend various events in the Lendava region dedicated to strengthening cross-border relations with Hungary.

I believe that during the implementation of my grant project I gained valuable experience that will help improve both the organisation of work and the selection of topics important to minority communities.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Goethe-Institut and its wonderful team for giving me the opportunity to be one of international mobility grants beneficiary. Thanks to this grant, I had an unforgettable experience in Slovenia, gained new professional perspectives, and developed a broader view of the world.

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 story are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.