Eurovision News Podcast

Harnessing AI’s Creative Potential and the Human Element with Kalle Kovacs

Kalle Kovacs, Digital Editor at Swedish Radio, joins Laurent Frat to explore the integration of AI in journalism. As an advocate for AI’s creative potential and an expert in effective prompting, Kalle discusses the impact of AI when used creatively and effectively by journalists. This episode delves into the rapid evolution of AI, ethical considerations, and the importance of skepticism to ensure responsible use. Kalle emphasizes the significance of clear communication with LLMs, addresses data privacy concerns, and shares his approach to maintaining a human touch in AI-assisted journalism. The conversation concludes with a look at the promising future of collaboration among EBU members to enhance accessibility and efficiency.

Combating Misinformation Through Cognitive Resilience with Valeria Kovtun

Valeria Kovtun is an expert in countering disinformation and building cognitive resilience.  She is the founder of Filter, Ukraine’s first governmental media literacy institution. With host Laurent Frat, Valeria delves into the concept of cognitive resilience within the realm of media literacy, focusing on the misinformation and propaganda tactics employed by Russia.

Valeria shares insights on the importance of psychological resilience and personal agency in combating disinformation. The discussion highlights how long-term propaganda strategies, such as rewriting history and fostering distrust, have affected Ukrainian society. They also explore contemporary methods of spreading propaganda, including AI-generated content, and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian government and media in addressing these issues.
Valeria Kovtun on LinkedIn

Engineering Wellbeing: Redefining Workplace Performance with Steven MacGregor

In this episode, Laurent Frat sits down with Dr. Steven MacGregor, a leading expert in workplace health and wellbeing. They delve into the critical importance of integrating wellbeing into the workplace, especially for journalists and news professionals who face unique challenges. 

Dr. MacGregor clarifies the essential distinctions between wellbeing and wellness, advocating for daily consistency instead of sporadic efforts. He shares practical strategies for managing stress and enhancing rest in high-pressure environments. 

Tune in for valuable insights and actionable advice to improve your workplace wellbeing.

You can connect with Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spmacg/ , visit his website stevenmacgregor.com , and his book The Daily Reset: 365 Days of Wellbeing is available worldwide on Amazon.

Trusted Journalism in the Age of Generative AI with Alexandra Borchardt and Ezra Eeman

The European Broadcasting Union has recently published its 2024 News Report entitled “Trusted Journalism in the Age of Generative AI.” In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Prof. Alexandra Borchardt, PhD, the report’s lead author, and Ezra Eeman, Director of Strategy & Innovation at NPO. 

They discuss how generative AI is widely believed to be a game-changer for media accessibility and inclusiveness; however, it may also present a significant challenge to the media sector by diminishing the visibility of journalism. 

The conversation also touches on the growing reliance on the services of large tech conglomerates and the broader societal and environmental repercussions. 

Acknowledging the challenges that AI can also bring, their exchange concludes with some advice on the role that journalists and media organizations have to play.

- Read the report here: https://www.ebu.ch/guides/open/report/news-report-2024-trusted-journalism-in-the-age-of-generative-aiNews Report 2024: Trusted Journalism in the Age of AI
- Watch Alexandra and Nic Newman, Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, provide insights and share findings from the Reuters and EBU news reports in this webinar. https://www.ebu.ch/events/2024/06/webinar--trusted-journalism-in-the-age-of-genailink

Conflict Reporting: Journalism in a Polarized World with Amanda Ripley

In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Amanda Ripley, journalist, best-selling author, and co-founder of Good Conflict, a media training company that helps people reimagine conflict.
The conversation delves into how journalists can de-escalate conflict, what they can learn from conflict mediators and the dangers of binary thinking. Amanda covers how to work with what she calls conflict entrepreneurs, the power of looping, and the role journalists can play in combating societal polarization.

Chapters

01:00 Investigating Conflict: A Journalist's Journey

06:44 Navigating High Conflict and Healthy Conflict

12:09 Introducing Nuance in Reporting

17:05 Engaging with Conflict Entrepreneurs

28:21 Understanding Conflict and the Role of Journalists

40:19 Building Trust and Understanding Through Looping and Humility

43:39 Convening and Building Relationships: The Journalist's Role in Community

49:24 Experimenting with New Ways of Covering Conflict

Tools mentioned: thegoodconflict.com/tools
Her book: High Conflict -- Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out

AmandaRipley.com

 

News Avoiders: Why Some People Eschew News with Benjamin Toff

News avoidance is a significant concern for the news industry and society as a whole. It can lead to declining interest and engagement with news programs and hinder the public from making informed political decisions. Joining us this week is Benjamin Toff, an assistant professor at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota and the co-author of the book, Avoiding the News: Reluctant Audiences for Journalism.  In this episode, Benjamin discusses the implications of news avoidance and the underlying causes of this trend, and proposes various strategies that organizations can implement to reach news avoiders.  

The Art of Engagement: Setting your program apart with Eric Nuzum

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Eric Nuzum, a distinguished figure in podcasting. Eric covers the art of crafting compelling content, engaging listeners, and standing out in the dynamic world of podcasts. Don’t miss our insightful conversation about the future of audio media, featuring Eric’s expert advice on meeting changing audience demands, diversifying programming, and driving innovation in public radio.

 

Eric Nuzum stands out as an influential podcast innovator, with his creations frequently topping charts and garnering hundreds of millions of downloads. As a key player in NPR’s podcasting venture since 2005, Eric’s inventive foresight and strategic insight have elevated the organization to a leading role in podcast distribution. He has been behind some of NPR’s most celebrated podcasts and continued his success at Amazon, leading the development of short-form content and podcasts at Audible. In 2018, Eric applied his vast knowledge to co-found Magnificent Noise, a podcast production and consulting company based in New York City. He is also the author of the acclaimed book “Make Noise: A Creator’s Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling.”

https://audioinsurgent.substack.com/

Navigating Poland’s Public Media Transformation with Wojciech Cegielski

Since last December’s change in government, Poland’s public broadcasting landscape has once again come under scrutiny. State actions aimed at restoring journalistic integrity and independence, which were undermined by the previous government, have become headline news themselves.

In this episode, we’re joined by Wojciech Cegielski, Head of News at Polish Radio. Together, we delve into the current state of Polish public broadcasting, explore the challenges it faces, and discuss the implications for journalism and democracy.
Wojciech Cegielski

Behind the Headlines: a Conversation on Mental Health in Journalism with John Crowley

In today's episode, we delve into the challenges faced by journalists in managing their mental health amidst the demanding nature of the media industry. We're joined by John Crowley, co-director with Hannah Storm of Headlines Network, an organization that provides resources and training to support mental well-being in the media. It aims to foster conversations on mental health through its podcast series, sharing insights and stories that highlight the importance of this issue in journalism.

John Crowley is a journalist with over 25 years of experience in managing teams across various media positions. He has served as a digital editor for The Wall Street Journal in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and has held managerial roles at The Daily Telegraph and Newsweek. 

In this episode, he talks about why he co-founded the Headlines Network with Hannah Storm after his own personal experience with burnout and the importance of their organization's work for newsrooms and with journalists across Europe and beyond. 
Behind The Headlines with Headlines Network podcast
headlines-network.com

 

Journalism & the Power of Storytelling with Liam O’Brien

In this episode, we delve into the art and impact of storytelling in journalism. To do this, we are joined by Liam O’Brien, an award-winning documentary maker and the chair of the EBU Audio Storytelling Group. We explore the nuances of telling captivating stories, the responsibility of journalists as storytellers, and how strategic narrative can significantly enhance the connection and impact on an audience.
***Trigger Warning: This podcast episode contains discussions of abuse, including sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you may be triggered by these topics, please consider skipping this episode or listening with a trusted support person.***
Liam at RTE
EBU Audio Storytelling Group

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