Newaves

✨ Exciting News from NEWAVES (newaves.eu)! 🎙️🌍

Are you passionate about community radio, local news, and digital innovation? NEWAVES is a groundbreaking EU‑supported initiative, co‑funded under Creative Europe, aimed at reviving and strengthening community radio across Europe's low-density regions. It connects universities, local broadcasters, and journalism experts from four countries to share best practices, create digital tools, and foster pan‑European collaboration.

🛠️ What we're doing:
Building a network and digital platform for content exchange and skill sharing

Promoting innovation in community media to reach and engage local audiences

Digital Strategy

🌐 Why This Matters:
Community radio keeps local stories alive—highlighting civic issues, culture, and regional voices that mainstream media might miss. NEWAVES empowers these voices with digital tools, partnerships with universities, training, and content-sharing initiatives. It’s about building a more connected, informed Europe.

📣 Join the Wave!
🔗 Explore more at www.newaves.eu
🎧 If you're a community broadcaster, journalist, or media student—this is your invitation to collaborate!

👉 Feel inspired? Share your support, spread the word, or reach out to get involved. Let’s ride the NEW AVES together!

www.newaves.eu

📊Results of the NEWAVES Project Presented at the Communication & Media Days 2025 Conference in Split!

From June 5 to 7, 2025, the second edition of the Communication & Media Days 2025 conference was held at the University of Split, organized by the Department of Communication and Media. Over the course of three days, the conference gathered experts in the fields of media, communication, and journalism, as well as numerous students from Croatia and abroad.

Among the participants were representatives from the Akademija za umjetnost i kulturu / The Academy of Arts and Culture specifically from the AUK - Odsjek za kulturu, medije i menadžment Department of Culture, Media, and Management – four first-year graduate students (Mihaela Češljar, Ena Lusavec, Eva Miladinović, and Gabriela Peranović), accompanied by their mentor and supervisor, Dr. Tomislav Levak, a lecturer at the Department. They led and participated in various activities and sessions during the three-day event – including lectures, workshops, and panel discussions.

On Friday, June 6, the international project NEWAVES – Collaborative Alliance for Radio Recovery and Boost of Community News Media in Low-density Territories – was presented to the audience. This project represents a collaborative alliance aimed at revitalizing radio and strengthening community media in sparsely populated areas. Conducted from June 2023 to June 2025, NEWAVES brought together eight project partners from four European countries (Portugal, Slovakia, North Macedonia, and Croatia), with the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek being one of the partners.

The project was presented by students Mihaela Češljar and Eva Miladinović, who took part in several of its activities, under the mentorship of Tomislav Levak, one of the project’s expert collaborators.

The presentation in Split highlighted two key components of the NEWAVES project – the digital platform for content distribution and the knowledge transfer and education center. As emphasized, both components are accessible via the platform newaves.eu and are primarily intended for current and future media professionals working in radio stations.

The presentation drew considerable interest from attendees, who praised the initiative and implementation of such a project focused on radio as a traditional, enduring, and popular medium, with an emphasis on supporting local radio stations in the participating countries (and beyond), many of which face various operational challenges.

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Повеќе од 30 радио новинари од четири европски земји ја завршија образовната програма во Осиек, Хрватска Како дел од меѓународниот проект NEWAVES, од 5 до 9 мај 2025 година во Осиек се одржаа два важни паралелни настани, во организација на Академијата за уметност и култура во ....

NEWAVES: From September Kick-off to May Outcomes with Trenčín University and Radio Aetter
Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín launched its collaboration with Radio Aetter (Faculty of Mass Media Communication at UCM in Trnava) in September 2024, as part of the European project NEWAVES, which promotes the sustainability of community and student radio in less densely populated regions of Europe.
At the initial meeting, the university team presented the concept of the upcoming mobility programme, which culminated in May 2025 with an event held in Osijek, Croatia. The programme brought together students from multiple countries and featured lectures focused on the sustainability of local media.
Students from the Faculty of Mass Media Communication at UCM in Trnava also participated as evaluators—their feedback has been compiled into outputs that will support the future direction and improvement of the programme. The evaluations confirmed the project’s value in fostering media literacy and practical communication skills.
Trenčín University, as a co-organiser, provided expert content, secured lecturers, and contributed to the strategic development of the programme.
NEWAVES demonstrates the power of collaboration between universities and student media, and its potential to advance innovative media education across Europe.

Slovak Team at the Final NEWAVES Meeting in Osijek

Representatives of Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín and STVR – Slovak Television and Radio participated in the final meeting of the current phase of the NEWAVES project, held in Osijek, Croatia.

As part of the mobility programme, the Slovak team contributed to educational sessions on digital skills, media ethics, and visual communication. Lectures were delivered by Pavol Struhár and Matej Drobný. Logistics and team coordination were handled by Petra Liptáková, with Tomáš Hanulík contributing through his long-term involvement in the project.

Selected students of mass media communication from university student radios also joined the programme, gaining new knowledge and valuable hands-on experience throughout the sessions.

The four-member Slovak team played an important role in the success of the event and represented the Slovak partners in both education and media practice. None of this would have been possible without the active support of the leadership of Alexander Dubček University. NEWAVES connects universities and local media across four EU countries to amplify the voice of regional radio in the digital age.

Slovenský tím na záverečnom stretnutí projektu NEWAVES 22.5.2025 Zástupcovia Trenčianskej univerzity Alexandra Dubčeka v Trenčíne a STVR – Slovenskej telev...

We’re proud to announce the publication of another scientific paper in Observatorio (OBS) Journal!
Digital innovation to support local radios in low-density territories through NEWAVES project
Authors: Joaquim Brigas, Jorge Gonçalves, Handerson Engrácio, Filipe T. Moreira, Fátima B. Gonçalves
Read it at: https://obs.obercom.pt/index.php/obs/article/view/2672

Digital innovation to support local radios in low-density territories through NEWAVES project | Observatorio (OBS*) Digital innovation to support local radios in low-density territories through NEWAVES project Authors Joaquim Brigas Guarda Polytechnic University Jorge Gonçalves Guarda Polytechnic University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8719-9272 Handerson Engrácio Guarda Polytechnic University https://orcid.org/...

Media Deserts Expand in Macedonia – Education and Sustainability Solutions Needed
At the panel on local media sustainability during the conference titled Strategic Approach in Defense of Journalistic Integrity, held on May 26, findings from the Newaves project were confirmed—media deserts are expanding. Stimulative measures, a media fund, and the engagement of young professionals are necessary, especially in local and regional radio stations, where only 65 journalists are employed across 62 stations. Out of 177 journalism positions, 63.28% are freelance. On average, each local or regional radio station employs only 1.05 journalists. For illustration, Macedonia covers an area of 25,713 km², while the territory occupied by the aforementioned municipalities spans just over 5,800 km².
At the panel moderated by Vesna Kolovska, part of the Newaves consortium, insights were shared from the Mobility Program, which took place in early May in Osijek, Croatia. Attendees were presented with the opportunity for e-learning through an open platform, where anyone can acquire the necessary education via multi-module learning courses.

We’re proud to announce the publication of a new scientific paper in Observatorio (OBS) Journal!
Read it here: ▶️ https://obs.obercom.pt/index.php/obs/article/view/2671?fbclid=IwY2xjawKpP65leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrDdAlTCvGfVxfEBfQZSBvsomwmYdIOZJT9Fc2p7_8GonSCE-U70LoXVrC0T_aem__vQpO3yx9BLLhQUwjHvAnw

Media innovation in low-density territories: Strategies for the sustainability and recovery of local radio stations | Observatorio (OBS*) Media innovation in low-density territories: Strategies for the sustainability and recovery of local radio stations Authors Joaquim Brigas Guarda Polytechnic University Jorge Gonçalves Guarda Polytechnic University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8719-9272 Handerson Engrácio Guarda Polytechnic Univers...

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A Dão Digital esteve na Croácia com a plataforma europeia Newaves. Projeto vai ser alargado (áudio) Notícia Dão Digital