- Testing on the road
In recent months, we have been testing components of the LEVEL UP media literacy game with senior players across the Czech Republic, travelling to libraries and community centres for approximately forty sessions with partners. The feedback from real players is directly shaping an intensive revision of the full materials package, covering everything from individual game mechanics to the supporting resources for trainers and partner organisations. The goal is a programme that is both sharper in its educational impact and easier for partners to run independently.
- Rebuilding Trust
A Multi-Stakeholder Data-Driven Journalism Initiative for Democratic Resilience
The project that brings together journalists, communities, civil society, and data experts to strengthen democratic resilience through collaboration, data literacy, and solutions-oriented journalism.
Across Europe, many people are navigating an information environment shaped by disinformation, polarization, and increasingly opaque data and AI systems. At the same time, many citizens, especially seniors, rural communities, and other underrepresented groups, feel excluded from conversations about systems that increasingly affect their daily lives. Rebuilding Trust responds to these challenges by creating shared spaces where journalists work across sectors to produce data-driven, evidence-based, solutions-focused journalism that informs public debate and policy discussions. The project also supports citizens in building the confidence and skills to engage critically with media, data, and AI, and to participate more actively in democratic life.
- Reinventing election coverage in Hungary
Can election coverage be more than just horse-race journalism? We believe so – and so does ALAP, a youth-led independent newsroom from Hungary.
We’ve partnered with ALAP to support their journalists in creating election coverage that truly serves their audience. We met in Budapest and discussed the importance of actively listening to what people care about and how to report on key issues through a solutions lens.
With Hungary’s parliamentary elections coming up on 12 April in a highly polarized media environment, this kind of reporting matters more than ever. Instead of focusing only on polls, tactics, and political clashes, the goal is to bring attention to policies, real challenges, and possible ways forward. And ALAP’s audience already showed great interest in the solutions-driven approach. The team received more than 350 responses to their call-to-action indicating what topics matter to them.
And ALAP’s audience already showed great interest in the solutions-driven approach. The team received more than 350 responses to their call-to-action indicating what topics matter to them.This work wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Evens Foundation. We truly value their partnership.
- Gemini for Change: Practical AI for Helping Professionals
We have successfully completed the Gemini for Change – AI Upskilling for Social Impact Professionals project.
In total, we delivered 83 training sessions, trained 1,824 participants, worked across 12 regions, and collaborated with 18 trainers.
Our participants — librarians, teachers, public administration staff, NGO professionals, and journalists — shared one clear need: reducing administrative overload and freeing up time for people-centered work.
What made the biggest difference
- Immediate, hands-on practice
- Practical use cases tailored to specific professions
- Strong interest in NotebookLM and custom AI assistants
- Clear, accessible explanations without technical overload
The majority of participants rated the sessions as highly beneficial and directly applicable to their daily work.
What we can offer next
We provide tailored AI training for teams and organizations:
- Available in Czech and English
- Designed for beginners and advanced users
- Built around real workflows and practical use cases
- Modular and adaptable to your needs
If your team is looking for concrete, responsible ways to integrate AI into everyday work, we’d be happy to explore a customized training format. Contact us at transitions@tol.org
- Train the Trainers Milestone in Prague
We’re excited to share a new milestone in the Level Up project.
Recently, we brought together trainers from different age groups and professional backgrounds for an in-person Train the Trainers session in Prague. The goal was simple but essential: align on the vision of the project, dive deeper into the development of the Level Up game, and make sure we are fully prepared to pass the methodology on to others.
The session created space not only for practical training, but also for open discussion, feedback, and shared learning. This exchange across generations and experiences is one of the strongest assets of the project. It helps us ensure that the tools we develop are accessible, relevant, and truly usable in real educational settings.
The Level Up game continues to evolve, incorporating insights from trainers who will soon bring it to classrooms and community spaces across the Czech Republic. The energy in the room confirmed that we’re building something meaningful — and ready to scale.
Next steps? Taking the training on the road and expanding our impact nationwide.
Thank you to everyone who is part of this journey. More updates coming soon.
- Transitions at ECREA 2026: New partnership with Lund University on democratic resilience communication
We’re pleased to announce that Transitions is co-organising a pre-conference event at the 11th European Communication Conference (ECREA 2026) in Brno this September — in partnership with researchers from Lund University’s Communication, Defense Willingness and Democratic Resilience (CDR) research environment.
Communication and Democratic Resilience: Perspectives and Pathways will bring together scholars and practitioners to explore the communicative dimension of democratic resilience — how communication practices, media systems, and civic engagement contribute to strengthening democratic mindsets and institutions in times of political polarisation, disinformation, and societal uncertainty.
The event is endorsed by the ECREA Communication and Democracy thematic section and aligns with the conference’s overarching theme “Shifting Grounds – Paths, Connections, and Futures.”
For Transitions, this collaboration is an opportunity to contribute concrete lessons learned from our work in media development and media literacy across Central and Eastern Europe to the growing body of research on democratic resilience communication.
Call for abstracts — open now
We’re inviting contributions from researchers and practitioners across disciplines. Topics include (but are not limited to):
- Fostering resilience in democratic societies through media and communication
- Strategies to counter disinformation and strengthen trust in public institutions
- Empowering citizens and marginalised groups through participatory communication
- Democracy and the role of affect, emotions, and passion politics
- Inclusive communication for vulnerable communities
- Innovative approaches to communicative resilience
- Case studies on communication supporting democratic resilience
Key details:
- Date: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Location: Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Abstract deadline: April 12, 2026
- No registration fee — ECREA membership and conference registration are not required
- Submit: 250–500 word abstract + author bios (max 100 words each) to CDR202609@gmail.com
Organised by Cecilia Cassinger, Nils Gustafsson, and Isabelle Karlsson (Lund University) together with Jaroslav Valůch (Transitions).
We especially welcome submissions that bring practitioner perspectives into dialogue with academic research. Informal inquiries can be sent to Isabelle Karlsson at isabelle.karlsson@iko.lu.se
The full call for papers is available at: Pre- / Post-Conferences – Call for Abstracts | ECC 2026 | 11th European Communication Conference
#ECREA2026 #DemocraticResilience #StrategicCommunication #MediaLiteracy
- ✨ Inspiration for 2026: Video Highlights from the Media Innovation Summit
As 2026 kicks off, we would like to share a short video recap from the recent Media Innovation Summit (MIS) in Prague. It offers a chance to revisit the atmosphere, ideas, and conversations that defined the gathering. Alongside the general event video, all recorded talks are now available with embedded subtitles, providing an accessible way to catch up or dive deeper into the insights shared during the Summit.
General event video here.
The Summit brought together nearly 80 participants from 39 newsrooms across 25 countries. They explored how independent journalism can remain resilient, relevant, and strong amid rapid technological and economic shifts.
The event opened with a keynote that set the tone for the days that followed. In “Why Journalism Must Shrink to Grow,” Peter Erdelyi, founding director of the Center for Sustainable Media, articulated a central challenge for independent media today: sustainability is less about constant expansion and more about focus, adaptability, and making intentional choices in an environment of limited resources. Erdelyi reflected on a reality many newsrooms face — that doing better often matters more than doing more.
Watch Peter Erdelyi’s keynote speech here. (The keynote is also available as a written article.)
The MIS was far from a traditional conference. The attendees were the experts sharing practical lessons on design thinking, audience relationships, and new approaches to sustainability — from revenue diversification and subscription models to podcasts, newsletters, video formats, AI tools, and more strategic use of social platforms. Just as importantly, participants openly discussed both successes and failures, creating space for honest reflection and shared learning.
“Dare to Try New Things – It’s Worth It”
Three summit speakers shared their insights about the importance of innovation to keep independent journalism resilient, strong, and relevant.
Ignite Talks by Maris, Sabrina, and João.
- How can solutions journalism help newsrooms truly belong to the communities they serve?
In our latest podcast episode, Meenal Thakur and Jeremy Druker speak with Catarina Carvalho, founder and editor of Mensagem de Lisboa, about what community-first journalism looks like in practice — from live journalism and deep listening to hyperlocal reporting on housing, climate, and urban life.
This conversation explores how small newsrooms can build trust, invite participation, and create impact far beyond the page and what larger media organisations can learn from them.
Listen to the episode here! - Online Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Trainings Held in December under the “Fact-checked” Project
As part of the project Fact-checked: journalists and activists against lies and propaganda, funded by the Czech Foreign Ministry and implemented in partnership with Serbian organization CRTA and their fact-checking outlet Istinomer, a series of online educational activities targeting journalists, students, activists, and election observers were organised in December with a view to promoting media literacy and countering disinformation. The training gatherings were held in conjunction with the 16th anniversary of Istinomer.
An online webinar titled “Digital Literacy: Skills for Identifying Manipulation and AI-Generated Content” was organized on December 16 and 18 for journalists, journalism students, and students of other faculties engaged in activism. It was hosted by Lazar Čovs, a journalist, fact-checker, and digital forensic expert with professional experience at the weekly Vreme, the Fake News Tragač portal, and the BBC World Service, as well as extensive experience as a trainer in digital forensics and media literacy at the Novi Sad School of Journalism, the Deutsche Welle Akademie, and the BBC Academy.
After participants were introduced to a range of tools and techniques that can assist in assessing whether online content is authentic, they engaged in group work, applying these tools in practice and independently attempting to verify content and reach conclusions. The emphasis was placed on the thought process behind verification, including critical thinking, searching, and contextual analysis, aimed at demystifying digital investigations and demonstrating that, while specific knowledge, practice, and experience are required for advanced analysis, an initial verification process is accessible to any journalist or activist.
The webinar was attended by approximately 15 participants from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, including representatives of a news agency, local media outlets, university professors, a linguist specializing in language-based manipulation, and students of philosophy and other disciplines. According to participant feedback, the workshop was informative, engaging, and well-structured, with a motivating and interactive atmosphere. Several participants expressed strong interest in following future activities and applying for additional, longer-format training events.
In addition to journalist training, Istinomer organized two online workshops for CRTA’s election observers on December 16 and 17, titled “Lies, Spin, and Violence: How to Counter Manipulation During Elections.” The sessions were led by Milena Popović, Istinomer’s Editor-in-Chief, and Milijana Rogač, Executive Editor, both of whom have extensive experience in election observation alongside their journalistic and fact-checking backgrounds. Each workshop gathered 15 participants and focused on Istinomer’s methodologies for fact-checking and verifying the accuracy of political statements, particularly in the context of monitoring electoral processes. Through practical case studies, participants were introduced to common manipulative narratives and spin tactics observed in previous election cycles. The workshops revisited techniques used to mislead the public, enabling participants to better recognize and understand such strategies. High levels of engagement and active participation throughout the discussions, as well as feedback from participant evaluations, indicated the relevance and timeliness of the topics.
Through these activities, Istinomer continued to support journalists and civic actors by strengthening their capacities to recognize manipulation, counter disinformation, and safeguard the integrity of public discourse.
- Stories of Ukrainian refugees
Special reportage | Stories of Ukrainian refugees This special reportage by Taktak partners focuses on the stories of Ukrainian refugees across Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal, Czech Republic and Germany. Read it here.
- The Audience That Sustains Journalism
New White Paper on donations now available! How do readers decide to financially support independent journalism? The main purpose of this White Paper on Donations is to analyze and understand the factors that drive donations to independent journalism, a financing mechanism that is explained by social and symbolic logic rather than purely economic considerations.The report presents seven successful case studies from different countries that illustrate how active audience engagement not only ensures survival, but also strengthens editorial independence and protects freelancers and independent media from external pressures. This study also provides concrete recommendations for freelancers and media outlets to harness the potential of the donor audience. New White Paper on donations now available! Read it here
- Your Go-To Toolkit for Combining Investigative and Solutions Journalism
The SoJo Europe Program is proud to launch a set of practical, journalist-tested resources designed to help reporters integrate solutions journalism into their investigations. These guides have been created with insights from journalists and mentors part of the program and they offer actionable methods and frameworks for elevating reporting with deeper evidence, stronger storytelling, and a sharper understanding of what really works.
Use them to strengthen your investigations, centre communities in your reporting, and report on solutions with clarity and rigor.
📘 1. Investigating Solutions: Integrating Solutions Journalism into Investigative Reporting
Want to bring investigative rigor into your solutions stories?
This guide shows journalists how to examine responses with the same critical lens traditionally applied to uncovering problems. It breaks down mindsets, methods, and practical steps for scrutinising solutions by avoiding “hero stories,” spotting data anomalies, evaluating context, and grounding reporting in lived realities. This is an essential toolkit for anyone who wants to strengthen investigations while revealing what truly works (and why).
📗 2. Solutions Guidebook for Reporting Lived Experience
How do you capture lived experience with depth, accuracy, and care?
This guide explores how personal narratives can strengthen evidence-based solutions reporting without stereotyping, oversimplifying, or losing critical rigor. It offers concrete strategies for interviewing people responsibly, and integrating qualitative insights into investigations. The guide helps journalists ground their stories in the realities communities face, and in the knowledge they carry about both problems and solutions.
📙 3. What Didn’t Work — and Why It Matters: Reporting Instructive Failures
Failures can be just as revealing as success stories and this guide shows how to report them.
It unpacks the concept of instructive failure in solutions journalism: investigating why an attempted response didn’t deliver, what assumptions were wrong, and what lessons emerged. Instead of blame, the focus is on insight, learning, and understanding complexity. This guide helps journalists use setbacks to illuminate smarter paths forward and make failure a powerful lesson learnt as part of solutions reporting.Explore the Resources in More Languages
To make these resources accessible to a wider community of European journalists, we have also produced translations beyond English. All handbooks and guides are now available in German as well as in a neutral Bosnian–Croatian–Serbian written standard, ensuring usability across newsrooms in the Western Balkans. You can access the translated versions below.
German translations:
Handbook 1: Lösungen recherchieren: Lösungsorientierten Journalismus in investigative Recherchen einbinden
Handbook 2: Leitfaden für lösungsorientierte Berichterstattung über gelebte Erfahrungen: Lösungsorientierte Recherchen mit menschlichen Geschichten vertiefen
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian translations:
Handbook 1: Istraživanje rješenja: Integracija novinarstva usmjerenog na rješenja u istraživačko novinarstvo
Handbook 3: Šta nije djelovalo – i zašto je to važno: Vodič za novinarstvo usmjereno na rješenja za pretvaranje poučnih neuspjeha u važne priče
- Media Innovation Summit: Innovation in Action
Nearly 80 journalists from 39 newsrooms across 25 countries gathered in Prague to explore how independent journalism can stay resilient, relevant, and strong. This wasn’t another sit-and-listen conference. At the heart of the summit was the “all teach, all learn” principle that turned the event into a genuinely collaborative space.
👉 Catch the spirit of the Media Innovation Summit – explore the highlights! ✨
Participants shared first-hand experiences, lessons learned, and practical insights from the projects they had been working on within the PluPro Project. They exchanged ideas on how design thinking and innovation can transform daily newsroom work – from engaging audiences and strengthening community ties to testing new formats, tools, and approaches. It was all about learning from what worked, what didn’t, and how these experiments can inspire others.
🔎 Want to dive deeper? See the project posters and case studies from the newsrooms. 📄
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