Radio and portal Titograd have been present on the media scene for eight years, but thanks to the support of Western Balkans Media for Change, the dreams of professional development and empowerment of young journalists are now becoming a reality. Our mission is not only to inform, but also to transform the way the media works and how it engages audiences, as well as to provide a voice to those whose voices are often not heard. With the ‘New Perspectives: Youth, Education and Innovation’ project, the aim was to empower and support young journalists and the topics they are interested in, enabling them to explore and report on issues that are close to them and relevant to their generation.
How we went, step by step to the finish line
Through the support of the Western Balkans Media for Change programme, we have made significant steps towards achieving our goal. We focused on educating young journalists, providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills through various training sessions and workshops provided by the programme, as well as through in-house training led by our editor Božo Bulatović. This training was not only theoretical, but has also included practical aspects of journalism, preparing young professionals for real challenges in the media world. The atmosphere in the rooms, filled with youth energy, was fantastic, stimulating creativity and enthusiasm.
In addition to the training, we have conducted thorough research that has helped us better understand the needs and interests of our target audience. The survey we conducted has stood out in this process and undoubtedly contributed the most to the success of our project and proved to be a key tool in our approach. Through the analysis of the collected data, we gained a deeper insight into the motives of young people to study abroad, the professions that attract them the most, as well as their needs related to higher education. These insights have allowed us to create content that is relevant and interesting to young people. In the first two months alone, we conducted more than ten interviews and articles, as well as two podcasts. We talked with students of medicine, information technology and ETF (Faculty of Electrical Engineering), a future law student, a teaching associate, as well as with a student studying in a neighbouring country. We wrote about inclusive higher education in Montenegro, educational programmes and the labour market, student organisations, motivations of young people to study in Montenegro and abroad.
As a result of all of the above, our portal has seen a significant increase in visits. The content we create, which is relevant and interesting to our target group, has attracted a larger number of visitors. This increase does not represent a mere figure, but a reflection of the audience’s trust and interest in what we do, which further motivates us to continue to innovate and improve our content.
Our story, as Radio and portal Titograd, is a story of transformation, empowerment and constant striving towards improvement. The support we have received through Western Balkans Media for Change has enabled us to become a stronger voice in the Western Balkans, a voice that reflects the needs and interests of our community. Our goal is for the media to be a platform where all voices are heard – especially those of young people, women and marginalised groups – and to promote gender equality and the rights of all individuals. With every published story, every broadcast, we prove that change is possible and that every voice can be a voice of change.
The Western Balkans Media for Change grant has also enabled us to address one of the greatest deficiencies in the media market – the engagement of young journalist Matej Kreže – who has learned a lot through the project and is ready to continue learning. This is, among other things, the greatest gain of our participation in this programme.
Radio Titograd newsroom