Between Bonn and Berlin:
What I Learned About the Future of Journalism
"The International Mobility Grant gave me new ideas, skills, and motivation to improve my work in journalism."
I recently spent three weeks in Germany for a professional development visit. I had the chance to work with journalists at Deutsche Welle (DW) in Bonn, and later I attended the Re:publica media conference in Berlin.
At Deutsche Welle, I joined their job shadowing program. Every day, I sat in editorial meetings, helped prepare news content, and learned how they plan and produce stories. It was exciting to see how a big international media organization works.
Vedran Prodic, narrator for DW TV Report, one of his mobility grant tasks
"I got the chance to deepen my understanding of international journalism standards and practices.”
The DW team was very open and kind. They were happy to answer my questions and share their experience. I was impressed by their digital and multimedia strategies — they use modern tools to create and share news in many languages and on different platforms. One of the most valuable things for me was working together with experienced editors and reporters. I also made valuable professional contacts for future cooperation.
After Bonn, I went to Berlin to attend the Re:publica conference, which is one of the biggest media and technology events in Europe. It brought together people from many fields — journalists, researchers, content creators, and tech experts. I joined panels, workshops, and keynotes about many topics, such as AI in journalism, disinformation, media innovation, and the future of public broadcasting.
"The discussions about how digital platforms are reshaping news consumption and public trust in media helped me think more deeply about the role of journalists today."
The atmosphere at Re:publica was exciting and creative. People shared their ideas freely and asked smart questions. I met many professionals from other countries and had great conversations. I believe these contacts can lead to new projects in the future. The conference was dynamic and inspiring, encouraging critical thinking and creative exchange.The only small difficulty I had was the return trip — there are no direct flights from Berlin to Sarajevo, so the trip home took more than 10 hours. But everything else went very smoothly and according to plan.
This visit helped me grow both professionally and personally. I learned new techniques in content creation, editorial planning, and using digital tools.
"Working inside DW showed me the importance of accuracy, balance, and audience engagement. The conference helped me understand emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the media sector.”
Vedran Prodic's TV report on the premiere of "The Wedding" Opera in Bonn by Canadian composer of Serbian origin Ana Sokolović. TV report was produced during his job shadowing experience at DW.I came back home with new skills, fresh ideas, and new energy for my work. I feel more confident now to apply what I learned to improve content quality and connect better with our audience. Most of all, I’m happy that this experience helped me take a step forward in my goal — to create strong, independent journalism that informs and respects the public.
Funded by the European Union, the Innovation. Media. Minds Program: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans, is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with its implementing partner DW Akademie. The contents of this story are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.