On 12 -15 May, Sarajevo welcomed media professionals for a regional workshop aimed at enhancing audience engagement in Public Service Media (PSM). The event brought together representatives from 15 countries and was organised by the Eurovision Regional News Exchange for Southeast Europe (ERNO) with the support of the CEI and the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) Partnership Programme.
Sessions focused on adapting to the digital media landscape while maintaining editorial integrity. Experts from BBC, Deutsche Welle, Swissinfo, NPO and YLE shared insights, and an EBU-led Train-the-Trainer session supported knowledge transfer within organisations.
“This initiative was a crucial step in equipping our members’ newsrooms with the skills, data, and strategies needed to put the audience at the center of everything we do,” said Dr. Željka Lekić-Subašić, Head of the ERNO Office. Echoing this, Emma Theedom, BBC Head of Audiences, emphasised that “audience-first thinking is no longer just an innovation trend, it’s a necessity.”
A key outcome of the workshop was the launch of the ERNO Regional Network of Audience Editors, a new platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange. The network will promote joint initiatives and sustainable practices to strengthen audience engagement across Southeast Europe.
Initiatives like this reinforce regional cooperation and resilience in the media sector. As public broadcasters navigate the challenges of the digital age, collaborative efforts such as this workshop are essential to ensuring a pluralistic and responsive media landscape in the CEI region.
For more info: fabro@cei.int
