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Europe/Central Asia

Brave New Media Forum: Youths speak out

Journalists, YouTubers and teenagers from twelve countries met at the end of October in Belgrade to discuss innovative digital formats and ethical issues around new media. It was a forum for building bridges.

What's ok and what isn't? YouTubers and Instagrammers at the Brave New Media Forum discuss freedoms and ethical responsibilities. Brave New Media Forum 2018 in Belgrad

What's ok and what isn't? YouTubers and Instagrammers at the Brave New Media Forum discuss freedoms and ethical responsibilities

What can media professionals learn from young journalists? That was a key question behind the two-day Brave New Media Forum held in the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

Jovana Jovic, 17 years old and co-founder of the teenager portal Youthvibes got straight to the point. "Conventional media don't offer much for young people like us," she said. "That's why we started our own portal where teenagers report on topics that interest other youths."

DW Akademie is supporting the Moldovan TV format Abraziv and the Bosnian youth portal Karike, where youths are reporting on topics they have chosen themselves.

That's a challenge for many established media in the Western Balkans. While they realize that in times of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat their own content hardly reaches young people, they are reluctant to let youths produce their own programs.

Just 17 and already media makers: Jovana Jović (center) and Vanja Joksimović (left) founded Youthvibes, a portal for teenagers; here in discussion with Jelena Dukić-Pejić (right) from DW Akademie. Brave New Media Forum 2018 in Belgrad

Just 17 and already media makers: Jovana Jović (center) and Vanja Joksimović (left) founded "Youthvibes", a portal for teenagers; here in discussion with Jelena Dukić-Pejić (right) from DW Akademie

Youths learning from youths

"Media these days have to be gutsy and innovative," explains Klaus Dahmann, head of DW Akademie projects in Serbia and the Western Balkans. "This is basically 'Brave New Media'," he says, alluding to Aldous Huxley's famous novel, "Brave New World".

Being brave and innovative – like Montenegro's public broadcaster, RTCC. With DW Akademie support, the broadcaster is training teenagers to be vloggers, helping them with video production and since October publishing the formats on Hexatorm, a YouTube channel. "I wasn't initially sure whether we'd be able to find and motivate talented youths," admits project manager Maja Djuretíc-Mrdak, "but I was amazed by these six teenagers!"

"Brave New Media" also points to negative aspects of the digital world. "We need to be aware of our responsibilities as media makers," Dahmann says.

Teenager criticizes editor-in-chief

A recent study by Serbia's press council was presented at the Forum and caused an uproar. Over the last two months, the study had documented almost 100 cases where the media had violated children's rights. Especially tabloid media had often reported on the sexual abuse of minors, and in a way that victims could be easily identified.

In the ensuing discussion, the editor-in-chief of one of Serbia's largest tabloid newspapers was enraged that his paper was constantly criticized although, according to him, this was hardly an issue in other countries. 

A 17-year-old stood up and objected. "Are you saying that young people should learn from older journalists that the best way to justify one's own mistakes is to point to the mistakes of others?" The student received a standing ovation.

  • Professional journalists taught us how to take photos, and it was great, said trainee Luka Matíc from Obrenovac, near Belgrade. He had taken part in a video workshop earlier this year, making this photography workshop his second with trainers from DW Akademie. Luka Matic (DW/Luka Matic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Paparazzi"

    "Professional journalists taught us how to take photos, and it was great," said trainee Luka Matíc from Obrenovac, near Belgrade. He had taken part in a video workshop earlier this year, making this photography workshop his second with trainers from DW Akademie.

  • Ognjen Galić goes to the same vocational school in Obrenovac as Luka, and like him focused on photography. Documentary photographer Marija Erdelji and DW reporter Jelena Djukić-Pejić, who led the workshop, asked participants to take photos from a creative perspective. Brave New Media Forum #BNMF2018, Ognjen Galic (DW/Ognjen Galic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Through the lens"

    Ognjen Galić goes to the same vocational school in Obrenovac as Luka, and like him focused on photography. Documentary photographer Marija Erdelji and DW reporter Jelena Djukić-Pejić, who led the workshop, asked participants to take photos from a creative perspective.

  • More than 300 guests took part in the Brave New Media Forum and were welcomed with a smile. High school student Elizabeta Antanasijević from the Serbian city of Niš captured this moment for the photo contest. I loved the Forum, she said. The highlights for me were the photo workshop and the YouTuber panel. Keep up the good work! Brave New Media Forum #BNMF2018, Elizabeta Antanasijevic (DW/Elizabeta Antanasijevic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Welcome!"

    More than 300 guests took part in the Brave New Media Forum and were welcomed with a smile. High school student Elizabeta Antanasijević from the Serbian city of Niš captured this moment for the photo contest. "I loved the Forum," she said. "The highlights for me were the photo workshop and the YouTuber panel. Keep up the good work!"

  • The DW Akademie team sought some quiet in the theater lobby, and with their laptop prepared the next video presentations. Nadja Stojanović from Niš was drawn by the contrast between the traditional children's theater, where the Forum was being held, and the event's focus on new media. Nadja Stojanovic (DW/Nadja Stojanovic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Tradition meets up with innovation"

    The DW Akademie team sought some quiet in the theater lobby, and with their laptop prepared the next video presentations. Nadja Stojanović from Niš was drawn by the contrast between the traditional children's theater, where the Forum was being held, and the event's focus on new media.

  • The children's theater Duško Radović in downtown Belgrade provided a fitting venue for the Brave New Media Forum, which focused on children's and youth media. Edina Kavazović from Novi Pazar went backstage to photograph props from the theater's plays and performances. Edina Kavazovic (DW/Edina Kavazovic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Masquerade"

    The children's theater "Duško Radović" in downtown Belgrade provided a fitting venue for the Brave New Media Forum, which focused on children's and youth media. Edina Kavazović from Novi Pazar went backstage to photograph props from the theater's plays and performances.

  • Different generations were on par at the Brave New Media Forum. High school student Lejla Kosuta's photo captured the way teenagers often present themselves – as self-confident and critical. It was great to meet so many young and older intellectuals, said the aspiring photographer from Novi Pazar. Lejla Kosuta (DW/Lejla Kosuta/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Young and self-confident"

    Different generations were on par at the Brave New Media Forum. High school student Lejla Kosuta's photo captured the way teenagers often present themselves – as self-confident and critical. "It was great to meet so many young and older intellectuals," said the aspiring photographer from Novi Pazar.

  • That was the title high school student Milica Vidojković gave to her photo. But what does the man's gaze reveal? Milica said that fascinated her, as did the Forum itself. I met so many inspiring people here, she said. Milica Vidojkovic (DW/Milica Vidojkovic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Observer"

    That was the title high school student Milica Vidojković gave to her photo. But what does the man's gaze reveal? Milica said that fascinated her, as did the Forum itself. "I met so many inspiring people here," she said.

  • In just two months Serbia's press council documented almost a hundred cases where tabloid media especially had contravened children's rights. In the tabloid reports it was often easy to identify minors who were victims of rape. Vanja Keser from Niš captured Tamara Skrozza's troubled expression. Szrozza is a reporter and member of the press council's complaints commission. Vanja Keser (DW/Vanja Keser/DW Aakdemie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Troubled"

    In just two months Serbia's press council documented almost a hundred cases where tabloid media especially had contravened children's rights. In the tabloid reports it was often easy to identify minors who were victims of rape. Vanja Keser from Niš captured Tamara Skrozza's troubled expression. Szrozza is a reporter and member of the press council's complaints commission.

  • There were plenty of interesting faces at the Brave New Media Forum, and participants at a photography workshop took some terrific shots. Mehmed Mahmutovíc from Sarajevo captured a photo shoot with a Bosnian journalist, and won first prize in the Forum's Best Photo contest. The Forum was great, he said beaming. Brave New Media Forum #BNMF2018 Foto Contest, Mehmedn Mahmutovic (DW/Mehmedn Mahmutovic/DW Akademie)

    Brave New Media – Through the eyes of teenage photographers

    "Pose"

    There were plenty of interesting faces at the Brave New Media Forum, and participants at a photography workshop took some terrific shots. Mehmed Mahmutovíc from Sarajevo captured a photo shoot with a Bosnian journalist, and won first prize in the Forum's "Best Photo" contest. "The Forum was great," he said beaming.

    Author: Klaus Dahmann


Grey zone of social media

An intense discussion also arose among YouTubers, Instagrammers and the audience around the responsibilities of  "influencers". Is it ok, for example, for them to try drugs on camera and show the affects? That's what Rens Polman and two other students did on "DrugsLab" a YouTube channel which, by the way, is financed by the Dutch government.

The "YouTuber Wars", particularly virulent is Serbia, were another focus. How can hate speech and cyberbullying be contained on social media? they asked themselves. How responsible are YouTube and similar organizations? Should channel sponsors intervene? Or is it ultimately up to the parents to control what their children see?

At a speed dating side event teenagers got to know media professionals and YouTubers. Brave New Media Forum 2018 in Belgrad

At the speed dating side event teenagers got to know media professionals and YouTubers

Building bridges

With more than 300 participants from southeastern Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, Moldova and Georgia, the two-day Brave New Media Forum has established itself as an event for building bridges.

Teenagers discussed on par with experienced media makers, and producers of children's and youth media from various countries exchanged ideas and explored possibilities for cooperation.

At a side event, youths tried their hand as media professionals– as photographers, video journalists and TV hosts. The best results were honored at the Forum's close.

Another highlight was a variation of speed dating, where teenagers got to know editors and social media activists. Each pair had five minutes to discuss ideas and then move on to the next partner.

The next Brave New Media Forum is planned for October 2019, once again in Serbia.