First edition of Voices – European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy kicks off in Florence

Brussels – The first edition of Voices, the European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy, will take place in Florence at the Stazione Leopolda from 14 to 16 March 2024. Voices will be a meeting place for journalists, media professionals, scholars, and citizens of all ages, focusing on the fundamental role of journalism and a critical approach to our relationship with information.

The opening evening on 14 March will be entirely dedicated to press freedom in Italy. The following days of 15 and 16 March will be filled with activities and learning opportunities, featuring events both in English and Italian. Debates, workshops for media professionals as well as citizens and their families, film screenings, and exhibitions will contribute to stimulating reflections on key topics, including the challenges facing the world of journalism today, the impact of artificial intelligence on the media, misinformation, European elections and active citizenship, as well as challenges to individual well-being in the digital environment.

The increasingly challenging conditions journalists face while carrying out their profession will be addressed in the debate ‘We are humans, hear our stories’ (in English with Italian translation), where we will hear the personal story of Matthew Caruana Galizia, a press freedom activist following the murder of his mother Daphne, who was assassinated in 2017 for her investigations into Maltese government corruption.

Other prominent participants include Mark Marginedas, Spanish journalist kidnapped by ISIS in 2013, Maura Gancitano, an Italian essayist and commentator, active in the field of dissemination, Elizabeth Milovidov, head of Digital Child Safety at the LEGO Group, and German journalist Georgine Kellerman, active in combating online hate speech.

Friday evening will feature a screening of ‘Io Capitano’ (2023), a film by Matteo Garrone relating two young Senegalese’s journey to Europe. The screening will be followed by a debate on the importance of responsible and correct reporting on migration. Access to Voices is free and you can pre-register Further details about the program are available on the official festival website.

Voices is the result of a collaboration among seven European partners, led by the Center for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom at the European University Institute. It is a project co-funded by the European Union.