On July 18 and 19, over 40 journalists participated in this engaging online training, a key component of the Western Balkans Media for Change project’s learning circles.
Representing media outlets from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, the journalists honed skills crucial for modern newsrooms. This training empowered them to launch their own podcasts and foster discussions on sensitive and impactful topics.
The training was led by Wojciech Oleksiak, Katz Laszlo and Zeljko Crnjakovic. Laszlo, a producer and reporter for The Europeans, weekly independent podcast focusing on the affairs over the continent, specializes in narrative podcasting, focusing on climate change and the intersection of politics and personal lives from her base in Amsterdam.
Oleksiak, a Warsaw-based producer, sound designer and reporter for The Europeans, created the English-language podcasts Stories From The Eastern West and The Final Curtain. He brought expertise in human rights issues and sound design for narrative episodes.
Crnjakovic, an internet entrepreneur and founder of Solutium, a digital audio and video production agency, is a seasoned podcast author and producer who coordinates the Inspirahub coworking centre and contributes his knowledge to the Thomson Foundation.
Day one focused on launching a podcast. Topics included podcast launchpads, recording and narration techniques, crafting engaging audio stories, and practical steps to bring podcast ideas to life. Laszlo presented narrative techniques for addressing gender-sensitive and underreported topics.
The second day covered the podcasting toolbox, guiding participants from concept to global audience. It explored different podcast formats, technical essentials for starting a podcast, tools for seamless online recording, postproduction tips and strategies for distribution and promotion.
Albina Vickovic, Director for Development and Innovation at RTV Slon, showcased their successful podcasts Tuzla Calling and Taboo Show. She shared insights on their inception, the ideas and topics they cover, and monetization possibilities.
The training highlighted the importance of careful planning in podcast production, topic and guest selection, and ensuring audience engagement. The use of the Engaged Citizens Reporting tool, developed by BIRN through the Media for All project, was emphasized as giving added value, bringing citizen voices into podcasts. The potential of podcasts as a medium for covering gender-sensitive topics and under-represented communities was also discussed.
The Western Balkans Media for Change project, funded by the UK government and implemented by the British Council in partnership with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Thomson Foundation, and The International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC), supports the work of media outlets and individual journalists across the Western Balkans.