A bid for a better journalism: iMEdD’s International Journalism Forum and our Community Event

What is “better” journalism? How do we make it “better”? This word, in the context of a profession that is ever-changing, under constant pressure, crucial for society, and subject to the relentless scrutiny of public opinion and political powers, means many things.

All these many ways journalism is “better” or can be “better” will be explored in Athens, from 26 to 28 September, during iMEdD’s third International Journalism Forum, an event dedicated to journalism in the broadest sense, with panels, workshops, discussions, titled “Unveiling stories, shifting perspectives”. Let’s see them together.

Elena Stancu in one of our live journalism EPPisodes – Odyssey Edition, at the iMEdD’s Forum in 2023

1. A “better” – of higher quality – journalism

It isn’t easy to assess what quality journalism is.

We know that well, at the European Press Prize. Every year, we mobilise a Preparatory Committee made up of more than 20 experienced journalists and a world-class level Panel of Judges, to try and identify the most worthy stories and journalists of the year. And who knows how many there are out there that we cannot reach.

Journalism is first and foremost a system of practices. So, when we talk about what higher-quality journalism is, we need to refer to the thousands and thousands of journalists, reporters, and media professionals who every day strive for quality in what they do, and try to tell important stories in the most effective and transparent way.

2. A profession made of “better” journalists

So, the focus of improving this profession passes through its practitioners, the journalists.

To make journalism “better”  we need to give every one of them – or at least the highest number possible, means and space to make great journalism. We try to do so with events like iMEdD’s Forum, and with our Community Event.

iMEdD’s International Journalism Forum will bring hundreds of world-class journalists to Athen. They will come together to explore the many facets of the profession. There will be panels on the effect of AI on it, and on the opportunities that new technologies carry; workshops on how to report ethically on difficult topics; keynotes on crisis reporting; and many more activities that will also give Greek journalists the opportunity to interface with their international counterparts.

It is during this Forum, that we will host our third Community Event, to bring together many Laureates of the European Press Prize, let them connect, share ideas, become friends. We believe that building a strong Community will contribute to making the journalists that are part of it, “better”, because it will give them the chance to learn from each other and the optimism of knowing that there is a support system ready for them.

3. A profession that is “better”, in better health

In the World Press Photo flagship exhibition in Amsterdam, visitors will find a room whose walls are completely covered with the names of all the journalists killed “in action” – doing their job –  that is, over the years.

It is a daunting sight, and the number of media workers who risk their lives, or who are sued, persecuted, harassed, and threatened, is ever-growing.

So, more safety means “better” health, a profession that can function “better”. Journalists can do their jobs more effectively when they know they are protected and that there is a system of accountability for who attacks them.

But better health also means better mental health. In the second edition of our Community Event, we hosted a workshop by The Self Investigation, an organisation whose goal is to teach journalists how to take care of their mental well-being.

Journalism is a high-energy profession, where work and life boundaries can be blurred, at times. During our Community Event, we decided to give space to this topic and open up the conversation with our Laureates.

So, when we talk about a “better” journalism we mean all of this: a journalism that is stronger, healthier, more protected, of the highest quality and made with energy and happiness. This way, it can be one of the most important professions in the world.