14 must-attend sessions at IJF Perugia

The landmark, annual International Journalism Festival (IJF) in Perugia is back tomorrow (9 April) for another installment of practical sessions, inspiring talks and thought-provoking panel discussions.

With 180(ish) sessions on the programme, you can't possibly attend them all. So our editorial team shortlisted 14 sessions we will be keeping tabs on either live or on demand.

NB: All times are UK (BST), unless otherwise specified.

Wednesday 9 April

Decentralising media support for the world's majority

Topic: Funding and sustainability

When: 4 pm - 5 pm

Speakers: George Adelman (FT Strategies), Aida Al-Kaisy (Jummar), Roby Alampay (PumaPodcast), Dinesh Balliah (Wits Centre for Journalism), Kim Bode (Newspack)m Rawan Damen (Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism), Shereen Daver (climateXchange), Che De los Reyes (Philippines International Media Support), Noreen Gillespie (Microsoft), Aled John (FT Strategies), Alesya Marokhovskaya (IStories), Eli Moskowitz (OCCRP), Preethi Nallu (Report for the World), Ariadne Papagapitos (Lighthouse Reports), Ryan Powell (IPI), Sannuta Raghu (Scroll), Bilal Randeree (Media Development Investment Fund)

One key question: How can we build sustainable funding and innovation models for independent media that truly serve local communities?

Why should I attend? This rare gathering offers practical survival strategies from a wide range of global leaders across different media markets.

Journos and techies aperitivo

Topic: none - just networking!

When: 6 pm - 8 pm local time (CET)

Join Journalism.co.uk, Connectopia, and our partners Tickaroo and Marfeel for a relaxed evening of connection and conversation at our friendly meet-up. We're creating a welcoming space where journalists and technology professionals can chat, share perspectives, and explore collaborations —all while enjoying a drink and bruschettas courtesy of Tickaroo and Marfeel. Irl only.

Thursday 10 April

15 years of news product management: what worked, what didn’t?

Topic: Leadership and strategy

When: 8:30 am - 9:20 am

Speakers: Felicitas Carrique (News Product Alliance), Mariah Craddick (The Atlantic), Nic Newman (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism), Anita Zielina (Better Leaders Lab)

One key question: Which product management approaches have delivered genuine business value for news organisations, and which trendy innovations were a distraction?

Why should I attend? To gain practical insights from industry leaders who have witnessed the complete evolution of news product management, helping you avoid repeating past mistakes and focus on proven strategies for your news organisation.

How to find and execute the scoops that can rock the world

Topic: Investigative journalism

When: 10:30 am - 11:20 am

Speakers: Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak (ProPublica), Karlijn Kuijpers (NRC), James Oliver (BBC Panorama), Alexander Papachristou (Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice), Gerard Ryle (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists)

One key question: How do these journalists time and again find explosive stories and execute investigations that have meaningful impact?

Why should I attend? Learn the tricks of the trade that these top investigative journalists use to land government-shaking exposés.

Addressing Ukraine fatigue in the media: keeping the story alive

Topic: Country in focus

When: 1 pm - 1:50 pm

Speakers: Alicia Alamillos (El Confidencial), Sonia Delesalle-Stolper (Libération), Zoya Krasovska ("Come Back Alive!" Initiatives Center), Daryna Shevchenko (The Kyiv Independent)

One key question: How can journalists develop innovative storytelling approaches to maintain audience engagement with the Ukraine war after three years of continuous coverage?

Why should I attend? You will discover fresh angles and storytelling techniques for long-running conflicts.

All journalists are content creators: it's time for us to embrace that

Topic: Creativity and imagination

When: 4 pm - 4: 50 pm

Speakers: Jane Ferguson (Noosphere), Johnny Harris (YouTube influencer), Mark Little (media entrepreneur), Taylor Lorenz (User Magazine)

One key question: How can individual journalists capitalise on the predicted half-trillion dollar creator economy while maintaining journalistic standards, when consumers increasingly trust and pay for content from individuals rather than legacy brands?

Why should I attend? Cut through the noise and hype, and discover how to earn a respectable living on creator economy platforms.

Friday 11 April

Closing the gap: aligning local news with community needs

Topic: Local news

When: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Speakers: Dale Anglin (Press Forward), Jim Brady (Knight Foundation), Jonathan Heawood (Public Interest News Foundation), Sarah Bishop Woods (News Revenue Hub)

One key question: How can local news organisations effectively identify and address the information needs of their communities to build stronger connections, increase trust, and achieve greater sustainability?

Why should I attend? Learn about a new replicable framework for conducting information needs gap analyses, with real-world case studies from the US.

After the hype: what are the key trends in journalism and AI?

Topic: AI

When: 10:30 am - 11:20 am

Speakers: Charlie Beckett (Polis London School of Economics), Gina Chua (Semafor - via video), Ezra Eeman (NPO), Karen Hao (journalist and author) 

One key question: What do we really need to know about the way AI is shaping journalism right now?

Why should I attend? Charlie Beckett never disappoints - he is very no-nonsense and direct about this emerging technology.

How to make climate science shine on social media

Topic: Climate and environment

When: 11:05 am - 11:30 am

Speakers: Adam Levy (journalist and climate communicator), Anna Turns (The Conversation UK)

One key question: How can journalists and climate communicators translate complex scientific findings into engaging and impactful social media content?

Why should I attend? "Climate Adam" (Dr. Adam Levy) unpacks his secret formula to turning key climate science into engaging social media posts.

New angles: creating a richer, more inclusive news story

Topic: Gender and race

When: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Speakers: Ankita Anand (journalist and poet), Ladan Anoushfar (As Equals CNN), Megan Clement (Impact), Louise Donovan (The Fuller Project), Ahlem Khattab (freelance journalist - moderator), Zahra Nader (Zan Times), Annette Young (France 24 Television)

One key question: How can journalists adopt a "gender lens" and other inclusive approaches to uncover overlooked stories, develop new angles, and produce more impactful and representative reporting across all topics?

Why should I attend? This is a hands-on session that will show you how to identify power structures and systemic silences, ultimately leading to the discovery of richer, more inclusive, and high-impact stories.

Note: This session is a workshop in which participation is by registration only. Maximum 40 participants. You must sign up online in advance.

Saturday 12 April

News or noise? The competing visions for journalism in an AI-mediated society

Topic: Big tech

When: 9:30 am - 10:20 am BST

Speakers: David Caswell (StoryFlow), Shuwei Fang (Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy), Paul Matzko (Cato Institute), Murielle Popa-Fabre (Council of Europe)

One key question: How are the competing visions of unrestricted free speech and AI-driven news, as exemplified by Elon Musk's actions, reshaping the landscape of journalism?

Why should I attend? Catch up with Elon Musk's latest media activities and its impact on the news industry.

Enemy of the people? The role of the media in an era of rising authoritarianism

Topic: Press freedom

When: 10:30 am - 11:20 am

Speakers: Patricia Campos Mello (Folha de Sao Paulo), Damian Collins (Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy McGill University), Ritu Kapur (Quint Digital Limited), Staffan Lindberg (V-Dem Institute), Antonio Zappulla (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

One key question: How can journalism effectively uphold democracy, present facts, and hold power to account, amid the crackdown by authoritarian leaders and polarised audiences?

Why should I attend? The panel will identify new power struggles and changes needed to ensure the media can continue to serve its democratic function.

The weaponisation of nostalgia

Topic: Mis/disinformation and fact-checking

When: 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

Speakers: Natalia Antelava (Coda Story), Patricia Campos Mello (Folha de Sao Paulo), Garry Pierre-Pierre (The Haitian Times), Julie Posetti (International Center for Journalists)

One key question: How can journalists and news organisations effectively counter the weaponisation of nostalgia – the creation of yearning for a past often coupled with fear-inducing disinformation?

Why should I attend? Prepare to be amazed to learn how this tactic has been used in various countries, from Georgia and the Philippines to the United States, South Africa, and Brazil, to undermine democratic processes and human rights. And what news organisations can do to counteract it.

Mistakes, setbacks and unfulfilled expectations: an honest f*ck-up session

Topic: Leadership and strategy

When: 4:00 pm - 4:50 pm

Speakers: Steffi Dobmeier (STERN), Shirish Kulkarni (news innovation research fellow), Chris Moran (The Guardian), Anita Zielina (Better Leaders Lab)

One key question: What can journalists and media leaders learn from openly discussing past mistakes, setbacks, and unfulfilled expectations in the industry, and how can these experiences provide valuable insights for future strategies and innovation?

Why should I attend? We are all human. This is a unique opportunity to learn how not all projects and ideas work out and how it is not the end of the world.

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