The most compelling stories are rarely uncovered in isolation—they emerge when newsrooms unlock the collective intelligence of the communities they serve. As top-down media models lose traction, forward-thinking journalists are replacing transactional reporting with collaborative frameworks that treat citizens as essential partners.
Arriving in Europe on September 7 and 8, 2026, at CaixaForum Barcelona, Media Party addresses this evolution. Below, you can find three hands-on workshops designed to equip journalists and editorial strategists with concrete tools to foster genuine community engagement, break down barriers in investigative work, and strengthen public trust.
3 Sessions to Master Participatory Reporting and Community Trust
Monday, September 7
- Beyond the Newsroom: How to Involve Citizens in Your Investigations
Speakers: Neus Vidal (Seek Initiative) & Sabrina Faramarzi (Are We Europe)
This participatory, English-language workshop explores how newsrooms can expand investigations past traditional boundaries by treating citizens as active co-investigators rather than passive sources. Drawing on grassroots practices from the Seek Initiative and media innovation approaches from Are We Europe, Neus Vidal and Sabrina Faramarzi guide participants through breakout exercises to prototype collaborative frameworks. The session covers community engagement, safety protocols, training methods, and cross-border collaboration techniques designed to deliver inclusive, high-impact investigations.
Tuesday, September 8
- Reporting from the Margins: Journalism, Trust, and Information Integrity in the Global South
Speaker: Marcelle Chagas do Monte Gontijo (Mozilla Foundation / Rede JP)
While industry discussions around media innovation often reflect Global North perspectives, this workshop shifts the lens toward historically marginalized communities in Brazil—including Indigenous, Quilombola, Black, and peripheral populations. Anchored by findings from the Territórios Digitais research project and experiences from Rede JP, participants examine how local networks build trust and verify information when traditional institutions fall short. The session offers practical frameworks to dismantle extractive reporting practices, address the impact of AI and misinformation on vulnerable groups, and cultivate community-centered reporting systems.
- La Buloteca: Turning Citizen Clues into Newsroom Agendas
Speaker: Lara Huwyler (Maldita)
La Buloteca is a collaborative platform created by Maldita.es that allows citizens to submit leads on potential misinformation circulating online. By contributing clues to open cases, the community actively helps journalists speed up fact-checking and investigate public concerns.
Transform How You Engage Your Community
Media Party Barcelona emphasizes practical, interactive learning. Whether you are looking to build cross-border citizen investigation networks, learn from decentralized trust models in the Global South, or turn audience clues into actionable coverage, you will leave with tested strategies to deepen audience trust and engagement.
Your event registration grants access to all sessions across both days.
