DW Akademie

What will media in the Western Balkans look like in five years? This week, the Media Innovation Forum (formerly the Brave New Media Forum) brought together participants from the six Western Balkan countries, Germany and Ukraine in Ulcinj, Montenegro to answer this question. From AI and cybersecurity to audience engagement and financial sustainability, the sessions explored the challenges facing media today and opportunities to do things differently. One question kept coming up: How can media keep up with change and reach new audiences, while remaining true to the values of journalism? Here are our key takeaways from the Forum: 1️⃣ AI is a tool, not a substitute for editorial judgment. From newsroom automation to AI-powered chatbots, the challenge is to use new technologies to strengthen journalism while protecting accuracy, transparency and trust. 2️⃣ Trust is built through responsible reporting and digital security. In an era of deepfakes, impersonation and manipulated content, protecting sources, accounts and audiences is essential to maintaining journalism’s credibility. 3️⃣ Innovation means knowing what to leave behind. Experimentation is part of progress, but so is recognizing when an idea isn't working. Testing, learning from failure and making evidence-based decisions help media organizations adapt. 4️⃣ Young audiences need more than repackaged news. Reaching Gen Z means understanding their needs, platforms and habits, and creating content that is both engaging and accessible. 5️⃣ Local needs and collaboration matter. Peer learning and shared resources can help smaller media organizations strengthen their own reporting and build long-term resilience. 6️⃣ Journalism’s values matter most when the environment changes. No matter what is happening, journalists must remain independent, ethical and accountable. Adapting how we work should never mean losing sight of why journalism matters. The event was organized by DW Akademie and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with co-funding from the European Union and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

What would success in securing the future of public interest journalism look like in the age of AI? Here are the answers by Monsur Hussain and Ruslan Mihalevschi. And how do we get there? Both media experts reviewed our brand-new strategic roadmap "Securing the future of journalism in the age of AI." It offers possible ways forward in supporting public service journalism as the vital democratic infrastructure it is. Among many topics, authors Dr. Rose N. Kimani and Attila Mong have looked at the regulation of AI and tech companies: https://lnkd.in/e5b83zrK

For English version, please see below. 🎙️ MethodKit pour les Podcasts – une série de tutoriels vidéo en francais Dans cette série de tutoriels vidéo, la créatrice et animatrice de podcasts raouia KHEDER vous accompagne à travers les étapes essentielles de la conception, de la production et de la diffusion d’un podcast. Qu’est-ce qui rend cette formation particulière ? Les tutoriels s'appuient sur le MethodKit Podcast, un outil développé par la DW Akademie en collaboration avec MethodKit qui prend la forme de cartes pour rendre la planification de podcasts plus interactive, collaborative et accessible. Raouia Kheder vous montre comment ce kit peut vous aider à : 🔹 affiner et challenger vos idées 🔹 structurer les échanges avec vos collègues et collaborateurs 🔹 transformer des concepts en plans de production concrets Cette série de tutoriels en français est disponible sur notre plateforme SMART MEDIA ACCELERATOR, aux côtés de nombreuses autres ressources conçues pour accompagner votre parcours créatif. Le meilleur dans tout ça ? C’est gratuit. Il vous suffit de créer un compte, de vous connecter et de commencer à explorer. 🔗 Retrouvez toutes les informations ici : https://lnkd.in/dcsJ5TtY --- 🎙️ MethodKit pour les Podcasts - a video tutorial (in French) In this video tutorial series, podcast creator and host raouia KHEDER walks you through the essential steps of podcast planning, production and distribution. What makes this course special? The tutorials are built around our MethodKit for Podcasts, a card-based tool DW Akademie developed together with MethodKit to make podcast planning more interactive, collaborative and accessible. Raouia Kheder shows how the kit can help you: 🔹 refine and challenge your ideas 🔹 structure discussions with colleagues and collaborators 🔹 turn concepts into concrete production plans The French-language tutorial series is available on our SMART MEDIA ACCELERATOR platform, alongside many other resources designed to support your creative journey. The best part? It is free. Simply create an account, sign in and start exploring. 🔗 Find all the information here: https://lnkd.in/dcsJ5TtY

In the West Bank, where the information ecosystem is polluted with rumors and fakes, Ahmad Frehat helps his community access reliable information. ✏️ Earlier this year, Frehat completed a training with DW Akademie's "Bread and Salt: Getting Together to Talk" project in the West Bank. Since then, he's returned to his community to put into action the skillful dialogue tools he picked up. As a project coordinator with Omniah Youth Center, he finds opportunities to pass on how to distinguish rumor and fake news from verified news sources, and how to navigate in a region struggling in conflict. 🤝🏻In his own words, he describes not only the challenges of daily living in the West Bank, but his own observations in helping colleagues, friends, volunteers and family members navigate understanding and dialogue. ☮︎The EU-funded "Bread and Salt: Getting Together to Talk” project helps young people decrease social conflicts in the Palestinian territories and to verify the news they encounter, while increasing peaceful dialogue.

Hi there, future Deutsche Welle Trainees 2028! 👋 🔎 Have you already taken a look at our multi-step application process? To make things a little easier, we've summarized the key steps for you below. 🤞 Good luck to everyone applying. We look forward to hearing from you! If you've read through the steps and are ready to begin your application, this way, please. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dy6tM5RW

When data becomes opportunity's gatekeeper, who's left behind? As part of our "Gender & AI" fellowship led by the Africa Women Journalism Project, fellow Beryl Achieng reported on the growing role of digital credit services. "Fuliza" in Kenya shows how instant mobile lending is a critical lifeline for small traders and entrepreneurs. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the decisions about loans are increasingly data-driven. What data are being used to determine creditworthiness? How transparent are the algorithms making these decisions? Could digital lending systems reinforce existing inequalities? Watch the story here: https://lnkd.in/e_ha9MrB

Reminder: PodCircle Meet-up, October edition 🎙️ This Thursday, you're invited to our PodCircle meet-up with Jasmin Bauomy, who will share insights into the intersection of audio journalism and art. Bauomy is the founder of THE ECCO, a nonprofit community where audio makers create work that moves between journalism, documentary and artistic expression. During the meet-up, we'll listen to selected pieces that take a multidisciplinary approach and discuss the creative and editorial choices behind them. Bring your questions for Jasmin! 🎧 Register here (for free): https://lnkd.in/dTKG__tp

How do you cover criminal activity without overlooking exploitation, coercion and abuse? That was one of the central questions explored during a recent DW Akademie workshop on reporting about scam trafficking in Southeast Asia. Much coverage of online fraud understandably focuses on the people who lose money. But experts argue that journalists also need to examine the human trafficking networks behind many scam operations, where people are recruited through false job offers and later coerced into carrying out online fraud. The workshop, organized by DW Akademie and the United Nations Human Rights Asia and Pacific Office, encouraged journalists to move beyond simple labels and adopt a survivor-centered, evidence-based approach. Participants explored how to verify information, avoid re-victimization and report on the systems that enable these operations. Swipe through for key lessons on covering one of today's most complex migration and trafficking stories. And head to the link in the comments to read the interview with Cynthia Veliko and Andrea Marshall.

New publication out now: "Securing the future of journalism in the age of AI" Written by Dr. Rose N. Kimani and Attila Mong, the paper distills insights from global consultations on how journalism can survive as AI reshapes the information ecosystem. Why's that important? Because, as Dr. Courtney Radsch put it so fittingly at our "The Next Chapter" event in Berlin: "Journalism is a keystone species. It stabilizes trust, anchors verification, structures accountability and enables other institutions to function." The roadmap offers concrete ideas for strengthening open, pluralistic information ecosystems worldwide. 📖 Download the paper here: https://lnkd.in/ePd7pe_w Ruslan Mihalevschi

Applications now open for the Deutsche Welle Traineeship 2028! We're looking for inquisitive, open-minded and analytical people who view journalism as a passion rather than just a profession. Talent, creativity, languages and team skills are also important! What awaits you? 🌍 Join a cohort of 12 trainees from around the world 🎓 18 months of intensive training and hands-on experience 🎤 Work across different areas of journalism and media ✈️ Spend time in one of DW's international bureaus 🤝 Become part of a global alumni network 🔍 Explore new perspectives on journalism and storytelling Here is what to do next: ✔️ Read our FAQs ✔️ Prepare your documents ✔️ Apply by November 17 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dy6tM5RW