For a few days this October, Bonn became the heart of media innovation as journalists, editors, and media thinkers gathered for the b° future festival to explore where journalism is headed next.
Across the city - from museums and libraries to pop-up tents on Münsterplatz -discussions focused on connection, creativity, and care. What made the event truly special was that much of the program was open to the public, turning the city itself into a stage for dialogue between media professionals and the communities they serve.
We were there too - not just as listeners, but as participants - liveblogging the festival as it unfolded. You can revisit our impressions, highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments in our live blog here.
And now, on to our key takeaways:
This quote by Emilio Doménech of WATIF captured one of the core messages of the festival. That sense of live - of being present, imperfect, and human - ran through many sessions.
Alexander von Streit (Media Rewilding) argued that journalism must become visible again in an age where algorithms dominate our attention. He talked about embracing performance and real-time formats - theater-like shows, community gatherings, and live storytelling - to rebuild relationships with audiences and leave a lasting impression.
Jakob Moll (Zetland) added another layer to this idea. For him, authenticity also comes from showing the work behind journalism.
"We need to show the effort put in the journalism we do."
You might spend 100 days on a story, but to readers, every article can look the same - unless you tell them, “I spent 100 days on this.” By fronting the process and being transparent about the work that goes into reporting, journalists can strengthen trust and remind readers that journalism is a craft, not an algorithmic feed.
Together, these perspectives underline the same truth - authenticity grows from presence and participation. Journalism feels most alive when audiences can see it happening, sense the work behind it, and even take part in it. It’s not about perfection; it’s about showing up and staying present.
Listening to people and creating spaces for them to respond was another central theme at this year’s festival. As Nina Fasciaux put it during the opening ceremony:
"A crisis of journalism is above all a crisis of listening."
Throughout multiple talks, journalists shared how their work is evolving from telling stories to having conversations. Whether through community newsrooms, comment moderation that invites discussion, or long-term engagement projects, the focus is shifting toward listening to readers and giving them space to respond.
Speakers like Rhiannon J. Davies and Lucas Batt from Greater Community Media showed how even small newsrooms can open their doors - helping citizens tell their own stories, asking what matters to them, and showing up consistently. At Ciudadanía Inteligente, the team’s mantra captures it well:
“Dialogue is not the end goal - it’s the way we work.”
In another panel, speakers from VerificaRTVE, Deutsche Welle, and the International Press Institute discussed how participatory approaches can help combat news fatigue, a problem once again highlighted in the Digital News Report (was nice spotting Nic Newman, author of the previous editions, in the crowd!)
The discussion also touched on the challenges of moderation and hate speech. Esther from Mannheimer Morgen, speaking from the audience, raised an important question about protecting vulnerable protagonists - especially when they become targets of online hate. Alina Živanović from IPI emphasized the need for clear and visible comment management guidelines that set firm boundaries, while Yasmina Al-Gannabi from Deutsche Welle added that the people at the center of stories must always come first - if a protagonist asks for a piece to be removed, DW honors that request immediately.
This participatory mindset turns journalism into a shared process - one grounded in empathy, transparency, and mutual respect. It strengthens trust, nurtures dialogue, and builds relationships that last beyond a single headline.
Panel "How to Build a Media Brand That Feels Like a Group Chat", with Emilio Doménech from WATIF
If one theme united nearly every session at b° future festival, it was this: journalism thrives when it builds real communities.
Speakers agreed that audiences no longer want to sit on the sidelines - they want to participate, contribute, and feel part of something meaningful. Journalism’s role, then, is shifting from delivering information to creating spaces for connection.
For Emilio Doménech and his team at WATIF, that meant transforming their newsroom into a living community. They began by producing evergreen stories that resonated with their audience’s daily experiences, then moved into participatory spaces like Discord and Twitch, where readers could debate, play, and collaborate. Their goal wasn’t to simplify the news but to make it feel alive and shared.
“To build trust, we need to pursue meaningful relationships.”
- Jakob Moll, Zetland
That same focus on belonging came through in the work of Zetland, the Danish membership-based outlet that treats journalism as a relationship, not a transaction. They call their readers “members”, not "subscribers" - not because it sounds better, but because they give them a real role in what the newsroom does. Members help shape stories, join live events, and even follow the editorial process behind the scenes. Trust, they said, comes from showing the work and being transparent about the effort behind every piece.
Meanwhile, speakers from Greater Community Media reminded us that community journalism isn’t limited to local newsrooms. Its core principles - showing up, listening, and staying engaged over time - can be applied anywhere. Building community isn’t about scale; it’s about consistency and care.
Together, these voices painted a clear picture of where journalism is headed: toward formats and practices that make people feel seen, involved, and valued. Journalism as a conversation rather than a broadcast. Journalism that listens before it speaks.
And while technology continues to evolve, the foundation remains the same - real connection. It’s in these ongoing, two-way relationships that journalism regains its purpose and its power.
Panel "Zetland: How to Launch Two (Three?) Successful Publications by Putting Them in the Hands of Citizens", with Jakob Moll (Zetland) and Ellen Heintrichs (Bonn Institute)
This quote from Jakob Moll, co-founder of Zetland, captured one of the festival’s most forward-looking ideas: the need for constant reinvention in journalism.
Throughout the festival, it became clear that innovation can’t be a one-off project - it’s a mindset. Every story, format, and interaction offers a new opportunity to experiment, adapt, and bring audiences closer.
At the same time, technology should never stand in the way of that connection. It needs to be seamless and intuitive - for both editors and readers. This point came up repeatedly across sessions. During the “Deine Stimme, deine Themen – Wahlberichterstattung, die bei den Menschen ansetzt” panel, speakers highlighted how engagement grows when actions are simple - for instance, when readers can participate or respond in just one click.
A similar focus on practicality appeared in the b°local panel on local journalism. Editors discussed the importance of understanding how audiences actually read - using tools like scroll-depth heat maps to see where readers pause and engage. Still, they warned against drowning in data: too many metrics can burden already overstretched editors.
Reinvention, then, isn’t just about adopting new technology - it’s about using it thoughtfully, in ways that make journalism more human, engaging, and accessible.
That philosophy also guides our work at Tickaroo. Many of our product ideas come directly from conversations with editors and publishers about how they connect with their audiences. Our new Reactions feature grew from exactly those discussions - helping newsrooms make coverage more interactive and give readers a voice in real time. You can see it in action in our b° future Festival live blog.
Over three days in Bonn, one message stood out again and again: journalism is strongest when it connects people. Every panel, workshop, and conversation circled back to the same ideas - listening, participation, transparency, and care. These principles are also at the heart of what we do at Tickaroo.
Live coverage - whether of breaking news, sporting events, or community stories - embodies these values. It invites readers in as events unfold, creating space for authenticity, immediacy, and trust.
It listens. It responds. It connects.
Like the speakers at b° future, we see the future of journalism as one built on trust, transparency, and connection. Technology should enhance these values, not replace them - helping storytellers stay close to their audiences and making every interaction feel real and alive.