The question of how young people are portrayed in the media, due to its significant impact, is becoming an increasingly common topic of interest and subject of various studies. The results of the Youth in the Media Mirror research for the year 2022, which addresses this issue and was conducted by the National Youth Council of Serbia, were not encouraging for the youth in Serbia: they showed that they were mostly depicted through highly stereotypical patterns, and that they were inadequately represented in the media.

In the Alternative Report on the Position and Needs of Youth in the Republic of Serbia for the year 2023, also conducted by NYCS, it is noted that a large number of local media face a lack of support for objective reporting and investigative journalism.

Contrary to this, the same research found that young people predominantly get their information through social media (59.5%), but their trust in the media is low, with as many as 66.1% of young people encountering fake news very often.

“Presentation of partner project" session (FOTO: Belgrade Open School)

To contribute to bridging this gap, as well as addressing many other issues, Belgrade Open School (BOS) has been implementing the Advancing Media and Youth CSOs Partnership for Prosperous Democratic Development of Serbia - MAY4DD Programme since 2021, providing financial and mentoring support for civil society organizations and media partners to implement their projects in partnerships. The Programme was created to help the media, especially at the local level, enhance their role in providing relevant and objective information, and to encourage young people to actively engage in civic activism in their communities and understand the importance of accurate media reporting.

Strengthening the Capacities of Civil Society Organizations and Media

At the initial training organized for new program partners at the beginning of the project year, participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the financial and programmatic aspects of the program, project implementation rules, as well as learn more about communication on social media and anti-corruption measures. This three-day training also allowed partners to present their projects to each other, get to know one another, and clarify any uncertainties.

"Social Media, Strategies, and Tricks" session (FOTO: Belgrade Open School)

A session titled "Social Media, Strategies, and Tricks" was led by Nikola Jagodic, an expert in digital marketing, who, together with the partners, analyzed their profiles on social media and suggested ways to further attract their target audience and improve content. Additionally, this workshop helped partners identify areas for improvement and create a distinctive visual identity for their social media.

General objectives and program conditions, reporting and visibility of partner projects, as well as financial project management, were just some of the topics covered in the sessions conducted by BOS team for representatives of youth NGOs and media.

Regarding anti-corruption measures and corruption in general, the executive director of Belgrade Open School, Milorad Bjeletic, spoke during the training. Through an interactive workshop, he presented principles that can be applied to improve anti-corruption measures in the media and organizations they originate from.

"Anti-corruption measures" session (FOTO: Belgrade Open School)

The initial training took place in Sabac from September 6th to 8th, 2023, and was attended by two representatives from each partnership, one member from each media outlet, and one representative from each youth NGO. In addition to financial support, BOS will strive to strengthen the media and youth sector through such and similar capacity-building programs, and encourage them to actively contribute, together, to the promotion of democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights in their local communities.

The Advancing Media and Youth CSOs Partnership for Prosperous Democratic Development of Serbia - MAY4DD Programme is implemented by Belgrade Open School with the support of the Kingdom of Sweden.

FOTO: Belgrade Open School

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