DW Akademie in the Western Balkans

In the Western Balkans, freedom of the press and freedom of expression remain fragile, and in some countries have become even weaker. Many media organizations and companies are under political pressure and struggle to survive financially, and often cannot keep up with technology or tackle disinformation. 

As a result, many traditional media have trouble keeping their audiences or attracting younger people who get their information mainly from social media – even if those sources haven't been verified or are susceptible to disinformation. 

Our activities: Focus on youth media 

DW Akademie supports media outlets in developing innovative content aimed at a young audience. Children and youth take part in developing and producing material so that society can hear their interests and concerns. Since 2017, DW Akademie together with partner organizations has advised more than 20 media houses and trained hundreds of media professionals.

Download the latest evaluation report for the region here.

The regional Young Media Network was established in 2022 for youth media and young media professionals in the Western Balkans. The focus is on formulating quality standards for media content targeted at children and youth, and on offering consulting services to media outlets and training for journalists. This network also aims to help make young people more resilient to hate speech and disinformation on the Internet. 

DW Akademie is also involved in several other programs and organizes a three-year advanced training program for young media experts. Nominated by partner organizations, they take part in ongoing projects, and a third round of experts is now getting underway.  

Every year, the Serbian umbrella youth organization KOM publishes an analysis of how young people are being portrayed in the media. Each summer it also organizes the annual Mediamocracy Camp together with other partner organizations for youth interested in the media. 

Support for private media and public broadcasters   

DW Akademie is also involved in two longer-term projects:

• #SustainMedia (2022-2024) which together with GIZ and Internews supports private media, particularly local and niche media  

• Innovation. Media. Minds (2023-2026) which together with the Goethe-Institute promotes public service journalism 

In both projects, DW Akademie advises media managers on topics such as artificial intelligence, user retention and format development.  

DW Akademie also trains media workers in the core areas of quality journalism, multimedia techniques and social media formats, focusing on coherent sustainable improvement processes; the media workers receive longer-term support from DW Akademie experts. 

Panel discussion at the Brave New Media Forum 2023 

Our events

Since 2017, DW Akademie together with the OSCE Mission in Serbia has organized the Brave New Media Forum held in Belgrade. It attracts over 300 participants from more than 20 countries and is now the only annual regional media forum on the Western Balkans. It brings young people interested in the media together with experienced media professionals and influencers to discuss freedom of the press, freedom of expression, disinformation and new media trends. 

The forum also includes two side events:

• Innovation Days that focus on the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence as well as innovative models in media outlets and
• the Next-Gen Media Expo that highlights best practices for modern, constructive and innovative journalism.  

Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), European Union

Program Director: Klaus Dahmann

Locations: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia

Local partners: 23 commercial media, seven public broadcasters, media organizations, Serbian umbrella youth organization (Krovna organizacija mladih Srbje)

Main focus: Professionalization and sustainability of the media sector, transnational networking of media and NGOs, participation of young people, digitalization, Media and Information Literacy (MIL)