For years, research in our country has shown that there is a misunderstanding between traditional media and young people. This is also evidenced by the results of the latest "Alternative Report" of the National Youth Council of Serbia, revealing that young people perceive a lack of content tailored to their interests within traditional media. The findings of this report also state that, apart from noting less content for young people, they also agree that not enough young people are present in the media.

The media, on the other hand, are fighting their own battles, and the situation, as Reporters Without Borders first characterized, is difficult. Their Media Freedom Index ranking for 2023 records Serbia's drop of seven places compared to the previous year, aligning us with countries such as Kazakhstan, Albania or South Sudan. The reasons for this include great polarization in the media, unsolved cases of murders, assaults and SLAPP lawsuits against journalists, alongside political and other pressures, notably affecting investigative journalists on a daily basis.

All this is also reflected in the local media, where the situation is even more alarming due to greater pressures in smaller communities, as well as the difficult way of financing.

Representatives of the CSO "StartHub" from Kosjerić and the media "TV Forum" from Prijepolje (PHOTO: BOS)

The project "Advancing Media and Youth CSOs Partnership for Prosperous Democratic Development of Serbia – MAY4DD, which Belgrade Open School has been implementing since 2021, continuously endeavors to empower local media and the youth civil society organizations to collaborate and jointly contribute to the improvement of democratic practices in their communities across Serbia. These partnerships between the media and youth organizations contribute to a more relevant representation of young people in the media, opening space for discussion on important social issues within local communities, and strengthening democracy by fostering critical thinking among young people and their engagement in social and political spheres.

Over the past nine months, through financial and mentoring support, as well as capacity-building programs, 14 partners have actively contributed to the promotion of democratic values, the rule of law and human rights, particularly within their local communities.

Workshop on organizational resilience and sustainability, Vladimir Pavlović, BOS and Uroš Mišljenović, Partners of Serbia (PHOTO: BOS)

At the final training, the media and organizations presented the key results of their projects that dealt with the improvement of informing young people about traffic dangers, digital literacy of farmers, media access to the inclusion of people with disabilities, mental health of young people, pregnant women and mothers in labor, as well as many other important topics.

In addition, they had the opportunity to participate in a workshop on the resilience and sustainability of the organization held by Vladimir Pavlović from BOS and Uroš Mišljenović from Partner Serbia, as well as to hear more about the production, placement and monetization of video content from the author of the popular series "Marka Žvaka", by Dušan Čavić and Dušan Šaponja.

Sessions on production, placement and monetization of video content, Dušan Čavić and Dušan Šaponja (PHOTO: BOŠ)

The project "Advancing Media and Youth CSOs Partnership for Prosperous Democratic Development of Serbia – MAY4DD" is implemented by Belgrade Open School with the support of the Kingdom of Sweden, and a new call for submission of project ideas is underway.

Source and PHOTO: BOS

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