From 10 to 12 November, a training course on intercultural dialogue and professional reporting standards gathered in Budva 14 young journalists from both prominent media outlets and youth magazines, as well as youth interested in journalism, from across Montenegro. The event was organized by the Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RYCO) Local Branch Office in Montenegro, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.
In opening the workshop, Edin Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office, said that the training course provided young journalists with the opportunity to grasp the fundamental aspects of professional reporting, intercultural dialogue, media literacy, prejudices, stereotypes, and many more. "Our focus is on elevating the skills of young journalists in media reporting standards, as media plays a crucial role in shaping and advocating for sustainable and inclusive peace," said Koljenović.
Martin Lulgjuraj, Director of the Directorate for Youth in the Ministry of Sports and Youth, pointed out the key role of RYCO as a mechanism for co-operation among young people in the Western Balkans. "Every opportunity to empower young people is extremely important since their work influences public opinion and contributes to building mutual trust and understanding in our society," said Lulgjuraj.
Irena Marunović, Senior Programme Assistant in the OSCE Mission, emphasized the importance of young journalists in influencing their peers: "How you act and report affects the way youth from Montenegro, but also Western Balkans creates opinions on different topics. You have an important role in preventing youth from creating stereotypes and prejudices among each other," said Marunović.
This was the second training course that RYCO and the OSCE Mission organized for young journalists in Montenegro. The first one discussed the role of the media in the regional reconciliation process and took place in December 2022.
