Local Media Futures and Democratic Health

As media platforms and social networks continue to grow in size, scope, and reach, there is renewed interest in the role of local media in supporting community and democratic health. Robust local media and news infrastructures support a strong sense of community, a stronger understanding of democratic processes, and a stronger connection to those around us.

Over the last decade, much has been written and researched about the risks associated with a lack of local media infrastructures in communities. While calls to return to some past utopian models are shortsighted, there is a need to explore new emergent local media models and their role in supporting healthy communities locally, nationally, and globally. The emergence of generative AI has further exacerbated the need to understand how communities find and connect to credible media outlets and build trust around them.

Date

Jul 14 - Jul 30, 2025

Session no.

SAC 19

Location

Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg, Austria

Contact

Paul Mihailidis

Program Director & Professor

Bobbie Foster

Assistant Professor

Surya HK

Network Development Specialist, Culture

Valeriia Chernysh

Program Manager, Education

Content overview

Additional Info Faculty Students Staff Partners

Overview

Aligning with Salzburg Global’s 2025 spotlight "Centering Africa," this session brought together local media leaders from various countries around the world to be in residence with participants and faculty in a global classroom. During the program, guests shared their models and approaches, highlighting the successes and challenges of their initiatives.

Session Structure

The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is an in-residence program that brings together 60-70 emerging leaders across media fields to connect with faculty, industry leaders, and media makers to explore how media could support more equitable and just global futures. The program offers innovative and dynamic seminars, workshops, and culture-building opportunities each day, along with a program focused on cultural and personal enrichment.

Program participants experience the following experiential outputs:

Connection to an active international community of outstanding leaders working at the intersection of media, innovation, and social change.
Inspiration and learning from across the world and foresight into directions for future media environments and innovations.
Relationships for networking in media fields across organizational, professional, and national boundaries.
Access to a vast network of Salzburg Global Fellows working on similar pursuits.

Participants also have the opportunity to:

Harness the collective intelligence and experience of over 85 other emerging and established leaders in media and media education fields.
Opportunities for mentoring, peer network building, and collaboration.
A candid, safe, and open exchange with peers under the Chatham House Rule.

Session Format

The Media Academy curation ran across a 16-day session, including a mix of seminars, workshops, lectures, a film club, interactive activities, cultural immersion, musical performances, and many other social engagements. Two to three excursions complement the in-person session. Weekends were openned for participants to explore Salzburg, Austria, and surrounding spaces. The session took place at Schloss Leopoldskron.

Key Questions

This session was focused on the following key questions about the future of local media:

What conditions allow for local media initiatives to flourish and sustain?
What approaches have an impact on local media initiatives?
How can local media support more inclusive and vibrant communities?
How can local media help to ground communities and foster a sense of belonging in a fragmented, often polarized, media environment?

Session Goals

Launch a network of aspiring leaders in media industries to collaborate on new ventures, initiatives, and collaborative projects for more inclusive, robust, and sustainable media initiatives.
Create a multimedia publication that presents a series of Speculative Media Initiatives to support more inclusive and robust media futures.
Produce a Faculty Report on transformative pedagogies for inclusive media futures.
Implement imaginative practices and pedagogies created at the Media Academy with partner institutions worldwide.
Provide co-design workshops for aspiring media makers to hone their skills in media design for creative storytelling and media innovation.
Offer media education training for inclusive and transformative leadership in media industries and media education.
Connect participants with past alumni networks to expand the Media Academy community's footprint and strengthen the potential for collaboration and engagement.