Maja Simic is a young journalist whose passion for journalism has been present since early childhood, but her ambition goes beyond the framework of minority media in which young Roma men and women are often expected to work.
Determined to show that she was capable of reporting on a wide range of topics, not just those concerning the Roma community, she was given the opportunity through a mentoring program in the editorial office of Television N1.
During her internship, she also reported on a student protest walk from Belgrade to Novi Sad.
"Along the way, citizens selflessly gave us food, sweets and words of support, and the moment that particularly stuck with me was when we saw a banner with the inscription: 'My grandmother is watching N1'. It showed in the most beautiful way how important the trust that people have in independent media is," says Maja.
Maja from Serbia and Leon Wings from Macedonia are participants of the mentoring program "Integration of Roma - Phase III", which is implemented within the project "Suppression of antigypsyism and integration of Roma issues in the Western Balkans and in Turkey". The mentoring program is implemented by the European Roma Institute for Art and Culture - ERIAC Serbia.
The goal of the program is to empower young Roma men and women in the media sector, through the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and experience in leading regional media outlets.
In addition to Maja and Leo, six other young Roma men and women have interned in major newsrooms across the region through the mentoring program. These are the newsrooms of Al Jazeera Balkans (Sarajevo), K2.0 (Priština), Radio Mitrovica Sever, TV Telma (Skopje), BIRN (Tirana), HALK TV (Izmir and Istanbul), as well as Nezavisni dnevnik and Television “Vijesti” (Podgorica).
Simić: Independence is especially important today
Maja says she quickly settled into the dynamic environment of the N1 newsroom, thanks to her love of journalism and the support of her colleagues. The warmth and willingness of the N1 team to help, she points out, further eased her adjustment.
"My expectations regarding the mentoring program have been more than met, because in just two months I had the opportunity to see how reporting and production work firsthand. I consider this experience a true example of quality mentoring, where, with the support of my mentor, I gained new knowledge and skills that opened up a completely new perspective on the journalism profession," she described her experience so far.
Although, as she says, journalism is her first love, over time she realized how responsible and demanding it is. Considering that she is studying international relations, she sees herself in the field of foreign policy in the future, where she wants to contribute to positive changes in society through diplomacy and public affairs.
"Journalism is a very challenging profession, especially when it comes to remaining objective and transparent, which is especially important today. In Serbia, where student protests are currently taking place, and most television stations are state-run and do not show the true picture of real events, the responsibility of journalists to convey accurate and impartial information becomes even greater," says Maja.
But: Everyday challenges
Leon Ali, a participant in the mentoring program in Macedonia, said that his interest in journalism is not new, as he had previously gained experience as a videographer and journalist, but the mentoring program gave him the opportunity to advance his knowledge and gain practical experience in television journalism.
"The mentorship I received and the opportunity to work in real-world conditions helped me to understand the newsmaking process up close. I especially like the opportunity to be part of a team and learn directly from experienced journalists," Leon said.
At first, he says, working in the editorial office was a challenge, but he soon became more confident.
"The editorial team accepted me very well, although I was a little nervous at first, because it is a professional work environment. Over time, I became more confident in my tasks and now I feel like part of the team," he said.
When asked if he considers journalism a challenging profession, Leon answers:
"Definitely. Journalism requires constant alertness, the ability to think quickly, and the skill to convey information accurately and understandably. In addition, we face challenges every day, whether it's tight deadlines, fieldwork, or dealing with sensitive topics."
When it comes to the future, Leon hasn't completely ruled out journalism, but he is considering other options.
“Journalism attracts me, especially visual storytelling, but I also have an interest in other fields, like speech therapy,” said Leon, revealing that mentoring helped him see possibilities in different directions.
Image changing program
Program Coordinator at ERIAC Serbia Nadja Greka emphasizes that mentoring provides an opportunity for young people not only to develop journalistic skills, but also to become part of editorial teams that have not had the opportunity to cooperate with Roma in the role of journalists.
"Although Roma are present in some media, their role is mostly limited to Roma editorial offices. This program changes that picture - our goal is to ensure that Roma men and women are active participants in mainstream media as well. Media outlets that have recognized the importance of the program have taken an important step towards a more inclusive and representative media space. We believe that this is just the beginning," Greku points out.
She said that over 20 young Roma men and women applied for the mentoring program, of which the eight best candidates were selected.
She specified that for many of the editorial staff, "this is the first time they have collaborated with Roma men and women in the role of journalists."
"This clearly shows how necessary such programs are, but also how excluded and neglected Roma have been as creators of mainstream media content," Greku emphasized.
The program, she explains, lasts two months and the activities are tailored to each mentor, mentee and media outlet, in accordance with their knowledge, capacities and interests.
"The essence of the program is to provide young Roma men and women with a concrete opportunity to be active participants in the media sector, in front of and behind the cameras, with a clear goal - to change the narrative and contribute to a more inclusive media space," says Greku.
He proudly points out that the mentors are extremely satisfied with the dedication of the trainees and their good relationship in the editorial offices.
"Everyone says that the participants are motivated, responsible and bring fresh, innovative ideas to the newsrooms. Their presence not only enriches the journalistic or editorial team, but also changes the way certain topics are covered and presented to the public," said Greku.
She also expects that some of the media outlets will offer to extend the mentoring program and added that for her and ERIAC Serbia, a real success would be to hire them.
"It is clear that such initiatives are necessary for long-term change. We hope that with the support of media outlets and donors, we will be able to continue and expand this program, because the results are already evident and inspiring. This is not the end - this is just the beginning of a new generation of Roma in mainstream media," concludes Greku.
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