Democracy, media and the public sphere

When democracy comes under pressure, journalism cannot stand still. This interactive workshop explores how journalism — and journalism education — can be rethought to better serve open, resilient societies. Bringing together educators, students, and practitioners, the session presents innovative approaches developed within the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA), including a live case study created in collaboration with the Brussels-based initiative Dreamocracy.

Through short expert inputs, student-led presentations, and collaborative group work, participants will examine how journalism standards evolve in times of democratic strain, how cooperation between journalists and society can be strengthened, and how education can shape a new generation of journalists as active guardians of democracy. Open to all, the workshop invites participants to reflect, challenge assumptions, and co-create practical responses to the dilemmas facing journalism today.