This project will strengthen local journalism in Slovenske gorice, a rural region of Slovenia that is currently a news desert. Traditional outlets have withdrawn, leaving residents dependent on municipal newsletters, commercial websites, and social media posts curated by local mayors. As a result, the voices of ordinary people—particularly marginalised groups—are absent from the public sphere.
With this initiative, our team of professional journalists will bring journalism directly into villages through a series of pop-up podcast events and related multimedia reporting. Using mobile equipment, we will record on location in diverse community spaces. Each visit will involve active participation from local residents, who will help shape the themes, share their stories, and co-create the content.
Every pop-up event will result in a podcast episode, an in-depth article based on Solutions Journalism techniques, a photo reportage, and short videos adapted for social media using AI tools. Stories will be published across multiple platforms: the online portal Ovtar24.si, the print newspaper, and a local radio station—ensuring accessibility for different age groups and media habits. A promotional campaign—including social media outreach, posters, flyers, and invitations—will maximise participation and visibility. Success will be measured through audience feedback, growth in digital reach, and invitations from stakeholders to continue the model.
The project’s objectives are threefold:
- Inclusion, by providing a platform for marginalised groups—such as the elderly, people with disabilities, young people, and socially vulnerable individuals—to share their voices;
- Innovation, by expanding traditional reporting into a multi-format, participatory, and sustainable pop-up podcast model that strengthens community engagement;
- Impact, by sparking dialogue on local challenges and solutions, increasing trust in independent journalism, and fostering democratic participation in rural areas.
By funding this project, we can create a replicable approach to community-driven journalism that brings authentic rural voices to light, ensuring they are heard locally, regionally, and nationally.
Ovtar24 is an independent, privately owned local media outlet serving the rural region of Slovenske gorice in northeastern Slovenia. It was created to address the severe lack of local reporting after traditional regional outlets closed or withdrew from the area. Ovtar24 operates both online at Ovtar24.si and in print through the newspaper Ovtar24 – Stories from Slovenske gorice, with a mission to deliver reliable, inclusive, and community-focused journalism in the public interest.
The outlet is run by a team of professional journalists committed to ethical standards, solutions-oriented journalism, and participatory approaches that amplify the voices of marginalised and underrepresented groups. Although privately owned, Ovtar24 remains fully editorially independent, with decisions guided by the principles of quality, authenticity, and the aim of strengthening democratic participation in local communities.
Goals (Expected) of the Project
The main goals are to restore trust in journalism, strengthen community dialogue, and ensure that marginalised voices are not only represented but actively included in shaping local narratives.
The broader impact of the project is to reinforce media pluralism by offering a genuine alternative to politically controlled or commercially driven outlets. By giving space to elderly citizens, people with disabilities, young people, and socially vulnerable groups, it embodies the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through participatory storytelling, it empowers communities to voice concerns and propose solutions, thereby strengthening democratic participation and fulfilling a human rights-based approach to information access.
In practice, success will mean that local residents feel heard, respected, and represented; that new forms of dialogue emerge between communities and decision-makers; and that independent journalism regains its role as a trusted public service. The project also creates a replicable model for inclusive, cross-platform reporting that can be adapted to other rural areas and associations, ensuring sustainability beyond the funding period.
By combining innovation with social responsibility, this project not only produces high-quality outputs but also contributes to a more pluralistic, democratic, and inclusive media landscape for a broader public.
