Nearly 100 journalists, as well as marketing and social communication students, participated in the 9th National Conference of the National Academic Media Forum. Within the walls of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, young people participated in training sessions and inspirational meetings with media professionals.
On December 1-2, 2020, during the 9th OFMA National Conference in Warsaw, nearly 100 student media representatives from across Poland participated in inspirational meetings, workshops, and training sessions with journalists and PR and marketing specialists. For young people, the OFMA Conference – as it does every year – provided an opportunity to network, exchange experiences, and gain valuable knowledge from older colleagues in the industry.
Responsibility in a world of constant change
On Friday, December 1st, during the official opening of the Conference in the Warsaw Stock Exchange Trading Hall, representatives of the Warsaw Institute of Banking, the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and the European Parliament Office in Poland spoke. They all emphasized the responsibility that rests on the shoulders of journalists just beginning their careers.
Michał Polak, Vice President of WIB, spoke about the need to sensitize the media to topics related to economics and European education. "During OFMA, we combine inspirational meetings with media professionals with topics related to financial and civic education. We believe that these two dimensions intertwine and are an inseparable part of the world that should be explained to readers and audiences. This will make you more willing to address these topics in the future, feeling responsible for disseminating reliable knowledge about economics and European values," Michał Polak told the audience.
Marek Dietl, President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), shared the previous speaker's opinion. He also added that journalism is an extremely dynamic professional field. "The media has changed beyond recognition. Anyone can own a newspaper, publish content, for example, via LinkedIn, and have a much better reach than many newsrooms. Modern audiences are also more demanding, which translates into a diversification of communication formats. Podcasts, tweets, and written texts are now commonplace, requiring creators to keep up with the rapid pace of industry change," Dietl noted. The President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) also emphasized that a good journalist is also an entrepreneur. "In the modern world of self-publishing, a journalist must ensure the entire value chain of their content: from the idea, through attention to click-through rates and reach, to the publication of quality content to make the world a better place," he emphasized.
„"We are counting on impudence"”
Media forms evolve, but one thing remains unchanged: the prestige of the profession. Witold Naturski, director of the BPE in Poland, emphasized that in European circles, regardless of their position, journalists are a strategic group that commands respect. "We have our own internal hierarchies, with some higher and others lower. However, they all have one thing in common: immense respect for the journalistic profession. It's not just about conveying our priorities to a wider audience. It's primarily about demonstrating the independence and transparency of the institution. Without journalists, this wouldn't be possible," the official stated. He also emphasized that the Office organizes seminars and monthly trips to plenary sessions dedicated to the media with one specific goal in mind. "We do this because we count on the boldness and education of generations of journalists who will not be afraid to ask the most difficult questions of European politicians and officials. We believe that this is what true democracy is all about," Naturski concluded. Members of the European Parliament were also guests at the conference, including Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek.
Networking, a grant competition, and tons of inspiration
On Saturday, December 2nd, representatives of student radio stations, television stations, and newspapers from across Poland enjoyed inspirational meetings with journalists from professional stations. The diverse topics of the meetings allowed for a variety of panels to be held concurrently. Speakers included Mateusz Święcicki (Eleven Sports), Olga Samsonowicz (TVN24), and Krzysztof Berenda (RMF FM). Additionally, a group of young people interested in the business side of media had the opportunity to participate in a dedicated panel session on communications and marketing. Speakers included Maciej Karboński (Polska Grupa Infograficzna), Wojtek Kardyś, Melania Kulczycka, and Piotr Tałaj (VUFINDER STUDIOS). The training sessions covered the role of social media in brand building, influencer marketing, behind-the-scenes TV production, and PR in cyberspace.
The conference also featured the OFMA Mediathon grant competition, in which seven student editorial teams participated. Under the watchful eye of mentors from the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the BPE, they worked for two days on concepts for informational and educational projects in two categories. In the "Europe" category, projects focused on voter turnout initiatives for next year's European Parliament elections and promoting civic participation among local communities. In the "Stock Market" category, participants discussed how to explain the capital market and investing to young people. The competition was announced during the OFMA Gala concluding the conference. The winner in the "Europe" category was the project team from the Student Television of the University of Opole – Seta TV, while in the "Stock Market" category, the jury considered the best project concept proposed by representatives of UKSW Radio.
Bartholomew Chlabicz
Watch the video summarizing the 9th OFMA National Conference!
9th National OFMA Conference
Organizer: Warsaw Institute of Banking
General Partner: Warsaw Stock Exchange SA.
In cooperation with: European Parliament Office in Poland
As part of the task commissioned by: Ministry of Education and Science
Honorary Partner: Polish Bank Association
Technology partner: Center for Banking Processes and Technology
Educational Partners: Bankers for Education, Cybersecurity
Media patrons: Radio Mors, Radio Feniks, Academic Radio LUZ, Radio Kampus, CDN Newspaper, Neptun TV, Eurostudent
