Journalists from Albania and the Western Balkans explore gender-sensitive reporting and emerging media challenges at the International Journalism Festival

30 April 2026 - Every April, the historic centre of Perugia becomes a meeting point for journalists, editors, researchers and media innovators from around the world. This year, the 20th edition of the International Journalism Festival brought together thousands of participants for discussions on artificial intelligence, misinformation, online violence, journalist safety and inclusive reporting.

Among them were ten journalists from Albania and the Western Balkans supported by UN Women, who joined the festival to enhance their knowledge, build professional connections and explore emerging challenges facing the media landscape.

For participating journalists, financed by the Government of Sweden, the festival provided a unique opportunity to engage with global debates shaping the future of media.

“It was an extraordinary, moving and meaningful experience. It leaves a mark both professionally and personally”, said Roland Zili, Editor-in-Chief of Vizion Plus TV in Albania.

“We participated in several sessions addressing some of the defining challenges of our time, including artificial intelligence and the ways it can be used by individuals and groups to target people in the public sphere, especially women and girls. These attacks affect journalists, authors, civil society representatives and even politicians.”

The festival was also attended by young journalists from across the Western Balkans, creating opportunities to exchange experiences and explore how media can contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Their participation was supported by the regional project “Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust”, funded by the Secretary-General's UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Beyond exploring emerging trends in journalism, the initiative encouraged participants to reflect on the role of media in advancing inclusion, amplifying diverse voices and contributing to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas.

For Ivana Jovanovska, a young journalist from Skopje, the experience reinforced the connection between journalism, human rights and social justice.

“What made this experience even more meaningful was the opportunity to participate alongside other young journalists from across the Western Balkans. Sharing our perspectives and experiences allowed us to realize that many of the concerns and challenges we face, whether related to media freedom, misinformation, gender equality, or youth participation, are remarkably similar across our countries. These exchanges created a sense of solidarity and reinforced the importance of regional cooperation and peer learning in addressing common challenges and building more inclusive and resilient media environments.”

One of the sessions attended by the journalists was co-organized by UN Women and the Information Integrity Initiative, presenting the findings from a UN Women global study of women journalists, human rights defenders and activists, highlighting the growing impact of technology-facilitated violence against women.

The research showed a sharp increase in the number of women journalists experiencing offline attacks linked to online abuse. While 20 per cent of women journalists surveyed in 2020 reported such experiences, the figure had risen to 42 per cent five years later.

Julie Posetti, Director of the Information Integrity Initiative and moderator of the panel, underscored the urgency of the issue.

“Generative AI is supercharging the risks faced by women in public life. Women journalists, women activists and human rights defenders are now experiencing online violence assisted by AI at a rate of 25 per cent. This is not only deepening the risks but also escalating the trajectory and scale of attacks.”

Kalliopi Mingeirou, Chief of the Ending Violence against Women Section at UN Women, emphasized the need for stronger action to prevent and respond to digital violence.

“We have alarming rates of digital violence, and governments need to have laws and policies in place addressing digital violence and enforcing them properly. It is very important to work with the police to ensure the right responses for survivors. But it is not enough. We also need prevention measures that address the root causes of digital violence and continued support for women’s rights organizations that are at the heart of these efforts in order to raise awareness and end digital violence against women and girls.”

As technology rapidly transforms the media landscape, journalists increasingly face the challenge of navigating new risks while maintaining trust, accuracy and professional standards. The discussions throughout the activities of the largest media event in Europe highlighted the importance of independent journalism, ethical reporting and stronger responses to online violence, particularly against women in the public sphere.