| Festival of Journalism, edition 2022. |
Photos Olivier Middendorp
The Mediahuis Festival of Journalism is a celebration where we can all learn
The first Mediahuis Festival of Journalism took place in 2022. It was a joyous occasion for some 150 journalists to learn from each other, and the birth of a new tradition.
Organisation 2022
Marcella Breedeveld (NRC), Paulien Simonides (Mediahuis Noord), Esther van der Meer (Mediahuis Noord), Karen Peeters (NRC), Nathalie Vercammen (Mediahuis België), Inge Carels (Mediahuis België), Ralf van der Linden (Mediahuis Limburg), Shi Jan Mei (Mediahuis Noord) and Yannick Mortier (NRC).
What’s even more enjoyable than journalism? Talking about journalism. Anyone taking a tour of a newsroom will always hear journalists talking about their work, a new angle, an inspiring or reluctant interviewee, an anecdote from a report or the search for a good source. However, those conversations are usually limited to colleagues in our own newsrooms. That’s a pity because journalists – and the titles they work for – can really benefit from each other’s knowledge. Especially since so many opportunities have appeared in recent years for gathering information, telling a story and finding an audience. More knowledge also makes you stronger in your trade – not unimportant in a world where journalists are no longer accepted as an authority.
Not an enforced addition to a busy workload, but a fun event – that was the thinking behind the Mediahuis Festival of Journalism. And it was certainly festive at the TivoliVredenburg venue in Utrecht. On 18 and 19 May, some 150 colleagues from our Dutch and Belgian titles gathered for the first edition of the festival, for two days of new insights, knowledge sharing, workshops, debates and expected and unexpected encounters. Rasmus Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford, kicked off the first edition with his views on the latest developments in the news media world.
Other topics covered included the appeal of crime journalism, approaches to regional investigative reporting, using data to write better stories and find the right audience, the recipe for success for podcasts and more. There were external experts on the various stages, but above all lots of Mediahuis colleagues who talked about their experiences.
Between the programmed events there was a lot of laughter and chat, as well as serious commitments to take on projects together. The music bingo turned out to be a great way to showcase non-journalistic knowledge and work with a neighbour you’d never met.
They were happy days for the festival organisers too. Of course, there had been nerves beforehand, but from the first moment it was clear: this is going well. And that was evident afterwards from all the positive and constructive evaluations. So on to the second edition, to be held again at TivoliVredenburg on 16 May 2023, and this time, our colleagues from Ireland, Germany and Luxembourg will join us too. Those who want to relive last year’s event can find all the videos and photos on the festival’s website: journalistiekfestival.nl. We’re all looking forward to it!
