Blog entry by Katja Kolenc
Anyone in the world
Media is one of the most powerful tools for bridging cultures. Through documentaries, podcasts, news features, photography, and social media storytelling, journalists can introduce audiences to diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives. This type of reporting plays a critical role in reducing prejudice and fostering empathy—especially in increasingly multicultural societies.
However, promoting cultural awareness requires more than surface-level representation. Journalists must avoid exoticism, stereotypes, and one-dimensional portrayals. Ethical reporting means engaging with communities authentically, seeking local voices, and presenting cultures within their full social, political, and historical context. It also involves acknowledging power dynamics: Who is telling the story, and whose perspectives might be missing?
When done responsibly, culturally sensitive journalism can strengthen social cohesion, highlight shared values, and celebrate diversity. It encourages audiences to look beyond borders—geographical and mental—and appreciate the richness of human experience. For young journalists, this represents a meaningful way to use media as a catalyst for understanding rather than division.