Kosovarian Journalists Schooled by Professor Anthony Adornato under Fulbright Scholarship Program
In the heart of Kosovo, Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) is playing a pivotal role in building democratic systems, particularly a free press. Amidst the challenges common to public media in transitional democracies, Associate Professor Anthony Adornato, a Fulbright Specialist, has been providing training to RTK journalists to strengthen their multimedia, mobile reporting, social media strategy, and audience engagement skills.
RTK, Kosovo's national broadcaster, established after the Kosovo War (February 1998 to June 1999), operates both radio and television platforms and reaches not only people in Kosovo but also members of the significant Kosovar diaspora. The broadcaster provides programming in both Albanian and Serbian, making it a vital source of news across Kosovo.
During his Fulbright Specialist experience, Adornato conducted sessions that emphasized the importance of effectively using social media and engaging audiences. He also provided hands-on experience by joining RTK journalists in the field to cover stories.
RTK faces challenges in maintaining its editorial independence and securing sustainable funding, as its financial structure, primarily funded through the state budget, has raised ongoing concerns. The International and European Federations of Journalists, along with the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, have urged authorities to ensure stable funding for RTK.
In addition to its role in countering disinformation from foreign actors, particularly Russia and Serbia, RTK plays a critical role in delivering news across Kosovo. Journalists in Kosovo share a passion for truth-telling and serving the public interest, despite working under challenging conditions.
Anthony Adornato views the Fulbright Specialist experience as the beginning of a long-term partnership with RTK. Fulbright experiences often lead to longer-term collaborations, and the collaboration between Adornato and RTK journalists is expected to continue into the future.
The training focused on mobile journalism, multimedia storytelling, and social media strategy, exploring current trends such as solutions journalism and audience engagement tactics. As RTK navigates a severe financial crisis due to the failure of institutions to allocate the legally approved budget, the skills and strategies learned from Adornato's training are more crucial than ever.
[1] Source: RTK's official website [2] Source: Fulbright Programme's official website
RTK's training sessions, led by Fulbright Specialist Anthony Adornato, not only stress the significance of social media for personal growth and learning but also equip journalists with essential skills for audience engagement and education-and-self-development in mobile journalism and multimedia storytelling. Amidst the financial crisis facing RTK, the strategies learned continue to be crucial for their survival and growth in delivering truthful news to the public.
