Presentations at Dubrovnik Media Days 

Members of the Social Communication Research Centre, Tanja Kerševan and Sašo Slaček Brlek, recently participated in Dubrovnik Media Days, an international scientific conference organized by the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia) in cooperation with the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (EUI Florence) and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU). 

They delivered a presentation on artificial intelligence in journalism and led a workshop on media policy. 

Presenting Research on AI and Journalism Autonomy 

During the “AI and Journalism – National Cases” session on 23 October 2025, Tanja Kerševan and Sašo Slaček Brlek presented their paper, “Rethinking Autonomy in Slovenian Journalism under Algorithmic Governance.”  

Their research examined the integration of AI into the Slovenian media system, which they described as fragile and politically influenced. Key takeaways from their presentation included: 

• Infrastructural Dependency: They noted that reliance on platform technologies can significantly deepen the existing infrastructural dependency of news outlets on digital platforms, negatively impacting journalistic autonomy. 

• Key Concerns: Their analysis highlighted a lack of shared standards, insufficient strategic planning for AI adoption, and a generational divide between younger, digitally fluent journalists and senior editors who focus primarily on ethical concerns. 

Hosting a Workshop on EMFA Implementation 

On the following day, 24 October 2025, Tanja Kerševan hosted a workshop at the Policy Lab titled “Learning from Neighbours – EMFA Implementation in Slovenia.” 

This workshop focused on the national implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), drawing on Slovenia’s recent experience with its new Media Act. The session brought together a diverse group of participants, including: 

• Representatives from the Agency for Electronic Media 

• Academic community members 

• Journalists and industry experts 

The workshop successfully underscored the value of cross-border learning and collaborative action to address the complex challenges of the evolving digital media environment.