Radio Active Zenica is a youth-led, non-governmental, non-profit community radio station, established with the goal of giving a voice to young people and offering content and music that is largely absent from other stations. Since its founding, the focus has been on working with young people, educating and empowering children and youth to create media content for their peers, thereby promoting content created by young people for young people. To this end, Radio Active remains active to this day, making the Western Balkans Media for Change programme an ideal support for what our values represent. Our involvement in the Media for All and Media for Youth projects has also given us valuable experience and insight into how effectively these programmes support young people in the media. We saw our participation in the Western Balkans Media for Change programme as an excellent opportunity to launch a new generation of young journalists and bring our ‘Journey to Journalist: Level Up’ initiative to life.
We deeply value the creative freedom this support provides us in the process of creating media content. Our station is known for its unconventional editorial policy and distinctive approach, with freedom being a cornerstone of our work. This freedom enables us to be creative and innovative, allowing the authentic voices of our youth to be expressed without constraints. In addition to this creative liberty, the programme offers invaluable support through mentoring, which is highly beneficial for our editorial office. Mentoring not only enhances the individual skills of each team member but also contributes to our collective development, improving the quality of our content and enabling us to better meet the needs of our audience. The combination of freedom and mentoring creates an environment where all members of the editorial team can thrive and contribute their best work.
Currently, our primary activities focus on educating and training young people to create multimedia content, which aligns with our key objectives. Our goal is to empower young people to express themselves by creating content on topics that directly impact and interest them. We believe it is crucial to support and educate young people, even those without formal education in media and journalism.
We take great pride in the fact that many of our members have gone on to pursue careers in various media outlets across Bosnia and Herzegovina after their time with us. This not only brings us satisfaction but also serves as recognition of our work and dedication to youth development. We aim to equip young people with the tools and knowledge necessary for their professional growth. At the same time, we are acutely aware of the scarcity of youth programmes in the Bosnian media. This underscores the importance of our mission – to create content that resonates with young people, explore topics relevant to them, and present information in an objective, accessible manner. In doing so, we contribute to their education and knowledge while empowering them to take an active role in society.
The support of programmes like Western Balkans Media for Change is vital for social development, as it gives young people the opportunity to transcend their own boundaries, develop new skills, and realise their potential. Through the activities offered by the programme, participants are challenged to step out of their comfort zones, helping them to overcome fear and build self-confidence. In addition, the participants learn how to communicate their ideas effectively and critically assess information – skills that are crucial in today’s media environment.
The most significant aspect of such programmes is the freedom and support they offer to young people. Beyond individual development, these programmes have broader social significance. They help cultivate a generation of young leaders and journalists equipped to recognise and address challenges within their communities. The media content young people create has the potential to drive positive social change.
Ena Čaušević, Editor-in-Chief, Radio Active Zenica