“Journalism can thrive, but only if we treat it as a whole ecosystem”
Throughout the festival, I had the chance to talk with several experienced media professionals. One was Gökşen Çalışkan of Euractiv, who offered a memorable insight, “IJF is a rare chance for people across the media world, different roles, countries, and experience levels, to come together. We face massive challenges, from AI to burnout to broken business models. Journalism can survive, but only if we treat it as an ecosystem. That means meeting audiences where they are, offering content that matters to them, and building diverse revenue streams.”
It rang true. Despite all the pressure on the industry, the energy in Perugia was vibrant, focused, and hopeful.
Musab Subuh, a climate journalist I spent time with during the festival, shared a similar feeling. “IJF was a place of real connection. I found space to collaborate and learned more about misinformation, AI, and fact-checking”, he said.
And finally, a word for the people who helped everything run smoothly, the volunteers. I met a few of the 50 behind the scenes, including Damiano and Marcrer, both just 16, who had come from nearby cities as part of a school project to practice their English. Their excitement was contagious. They were a quiet but powerful reminder, the future of journalism is already taking shape.
