For years now, the media scene in Serbia seems irreparable: fake news has not been rare for a long time, investigative journalists suffer enormous pressure, attacks on journalists are becoming more frequent, as well as impunity for attackers, while the media is increasingly polarized. And relevant reports testify to the unfavorable state of the media and media freedoms in our country.

Thus, the European Commission report for 2022 states that no progress has been made in the field of freedom of expression and that cases of threats and violence against journalists are still a concern. Duuring the same year, the Reporters Without Borders assessed in their reporting that journalists are in an environment that is often restrictive, and that self-censorship is prevalent.

In order to stop such unfavorable trends and give the reports related to them a more optimistic tone, it is necessary to empower journalists to continue doing investigative work, to improve the quality of their reporting, but also to strengthen the overall environment for exercising freedom of expression.

With this aim and intention to improve the practical reporting skills of young journalists, introduce them to investigative journalism, introduce new techniques into their work and encourage mutual networking and cooperation that the first Academy of Journalism was organized in 2022 as part of the Media and Youth for democratic development.

The new cycle of the academy with selected male and female students started on January 25 with an introduction training organized in Sabac. In addition to the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the program and the way of working, the participants had the opportunity to participate in introductory lectures and workshops. Storytelling, techniques, interview models and preparation and non-verbal communication, mobile journalism, as well as what are the basic databases for searching were some of the topics addressed during the three days of training by Stefan Markovic from CINS, Vojislav Stevanoic, a journalist from N1 television, Sandra Maksimovic from the BBC Serbian newsroom and journalist from KRIK, Jelena Vasic.

Apart from the theoretical part, the lecturers also organized practical tasks on these topics in order to help the young journalists of the Academy to improve their work by applying the presented techniques and approaches in their daily work.

Within the Academy of Journalism in the coming period, online lectures will be continuously organized, as well as mentoring work with prominent journalists, who will help the participants of this program to create their own media content. The authors of the best works that represent complex journalistic forms on topics that are significant for local communities in the field of development, functioning of democracy and the work of institutions, the rule of law and human rights, will also be financially rewarded.

PHOTO: Belgrade Open School

Photo gallery is available HERE