The representatives of the NGO “Mladiinfo Montenegro” Nemanja Tomasevic participated in the training “How to read Youth Media Exchange”, which was held from 12 to 19 November in Berlin, organized by the European Youth Press with the support of the Erasmus+ program.
“Training in Berlin, although of an informal character, for me personally is a great experience. For the first time, I participated in one of these types of training in one of the most developed countries of Western Europe, Germany. Staying in Berlin was of great significance, both for me and for the other members of the Montenegrin team. Beside me, Jovan Davidovic Milica Đurđevac, Vuk Lakovic, and Strahinja Jovanović were also from Montenegro, and all together we have great impressions and memories, both because of the knowledge and learned skills, but also because of the impressive tour in Berlin, which we were provided by the organizer. After our arrival and accommodation in a motel, not far away from the center of the German city, we met with the organizers and much of the rest of the participants, but from the second day, the training was going full steam ahead. Introductory lectures on media, media literacy, language and objective reporting of the media were the sign that it was a serious training, as organizers showed from the start. Taking part in lectures, exercises, and discussions, I learned a lot in the field of media language, which was the theme of the group where I was. Namely, after the lectures were held and tools for work presented, the participants were divided into groups that were related to media content, objective reporting and false news, socially responsible media and media language, and all groups had the deadline to the penultimate day for the presentation of the project. Working on the project with colleagues from the same linguistic area, and with participants from Slovakia and Armenia, I also improved my knowledge of digital journalism, and how to use web apps properly that may facilitate my work on projects. A freelancer of Afghan origin residing in London, Weiss spoke on investigative journalism, its advantages and disadvantages, influence it has in the world, but also on difficulties it faces. Weiss also introduced a number of techniques used in journalism with the help of internet data and special tools to recognize the validity of sources, both in writing and in photo and video form. I would like to thank the main speakers, also the organizers Martin masks and Fatima Naimi, whose experience and theoretical knowledge was supported with real examples, and thus gave more than interesting lectures and trained participants well. One of the biggest impressions of training in Berlin was visiting the ZDF television, which is one of two national televisions in Germany. A two-hour walk through the TV building, in which one of our employees presented the time and work in this medium is enough indication of how one of the two national frequencies in this country works professionally. Of course, although the trip to Germany was primarily due to the acquisition of new knowledge, the impression would not have been complete if it had not great meetings and visiting the natural, historical and urban resources that made Berlin famous in the world. Brandenburg Gate, Berlinger home, the East Side Gallery, walking the streets of the city, will definitely remain in your memory, not less than trying traditional dishes and drinks, amongst which the famous “Wurst” sausages and dark “Berliner” beer stood out.
For young people, especially students, and others who are interested in or already working in the media, I would recommend going to this training, or some other similar content.
“How to read Media” brought together more than 40 participants, and besides representatives of Montenegro and the host country, representatives from Bosnia, Italy, Belgium, Armenia, France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg participated as well.