The Matthew staff participated in the 2024 Ferrara Journalism Festival and got the best out of it by understanding that storytelling goes beyond the mere reporting of facts—it connects people on a deeper level, allowing us to engage with the emotional truths behind every story. 

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By Annalucia Scotto di Clemente and Vittoria Caroli / Matthew staff |Edited by Annalucia Scotto di Clemente

Internazionale a Ferrara is a journalism festival organized by the Municipality of Ferrara and the magazine Internazionale, in collaboration with ARCI (Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana). This annual event takes place in Ferrara during the first weekend of October. The festival was first launched in 2007 when Internazionale, an independent weekly news magazine founded in 1993, partnered with the Municipality of Ferrara to create an event focused on promoting meetings and debates with some of the most significant journalists, writers, economists, and cartoonists of our time. 

The Matthew Delegation: Francesca Motta, Vishwa Parmar, Annalucia Scotto Di Clemente, Vittoria Caroli.  Accompanied by Federica Bocco, from Student Engagement Office.  

Over three days, the festival offers a wide variety of debates, conferences, and lectures, particularly focused on global current issues, giving attendees an extensive range of subject matters to choose from. Discussions with journalists are held in conference rooms within the historic center of Ferrara, and, in some cases, debates are hosted in public places such as bars or cafés, where the public can engage directly with the speakers. 

Back in 2007, when the festival was still a niche event, it achieved an unexpected success, drawing over 17,000 visitors. By 2017, at its 11th edition, Internazionale a Ferrara welcomed around 76,000 attendees, featuring over 270 guest speakers and 130 meetings on its program. 

In 2024, the festival’s theme was peace, guiding many sessions that delved into pressing global conflicts, such as the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and the hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Discussions spanned from political violence and civil rights violations to the evolving alliances between nations, offering attendees a detailed look into how these conflicts unfold on the global stage. Journalists and experts explored the critical role the media plays in conflict reporting and the ethical dilemmas faced in times of war. These intense debates encouraged us to reflect on how journalism shapes the public’s understanding of conflict and crisis. 

However, the weekend wasn’t solely focused on politics. A wide variety of sessions explored other topics, providing attendees with broader reflections. As aspiring journalists, videomakers, and radio journalists in training—and above all, as university students—we seized the opportunity to attend as many diverse sessions as possible to expand our perspectives. Each of us participated in conferences that left a lasting impression, whether it was a workshop on the psychological significance of dreams, a panel on the evolving role of women in the 21st century, or a “conversational circle” discussing the complexities of modern love relationships. 

Among the most memorable for us, Annalucia and Vittoria, was the event titled Romantic Revolutions, inspired by the French podcast La Coeur Sur La Table. During the session, Maia Mazaurette, a renowned French blogger and writer, reflected on how her parents’ relationship influenced her own romantic experiences. The session not only provided an intimate look into the dynamics of love but also sparked thought-provoking conversations about how generational and cultural shifts are reshaping the way we view relationships today. 

Podcast Session: Romantic Revolutions

The festival seamlessly blended serious political discourse with discussions of personal, human-centered stories, creating an environment that was as intellectually stimulating as it was creatively enriching. The range of topics—from geopolitical conflicts to the personal impact of relationships—offered a holistic view of how global and personal narratives intersect to shape our understanding of the world. 

As aspiring journalists and media creators, we found ourselves reflecting deeply on the media’s role in shaping public opinion and the responsibility that comes with it. Sessions on disinformation, conflict reporting, and the influence of social media on global news cycles prompted us to think critically about how stories are constructed, framed, and disseminated in today’s fast-paced media environment. Hearing firsthand from journalists reporting from war zones was particularly impactful, giving us invaluable insight into the realities of conflict journalism and the ethical challenges that arise in the field. 

At the same time, the festival reminded us of the power of storytelling in more personal contexts. Sessions like Romantic Revolutions and the workshops on dreams reinforced the importance of emotional narratives. Storytelling goes beyond the mere reporting of facts—it connects people on a deeper level, allowing us to engage with the emotional truths behind every story. These sessions reaffirmed our belief that journalism is not only about informing the public but also about fostering understanding and empathy. 

Another standout feature of the festival was its international dimension. The presence of speakers and participants from around the globe added richness to the discussions, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world. Debates on civil rights, political violence, and the shifting dynamics of international alliances reinforced the importance of cultivating a global perspective in journalism, a lesson we, as students, strive to carry forward in our work. 

The Ferrara Journalism Festival offered us a unique opportunity to engage with pressing global issues while exploring the intimate complexities of human relationships. Whether reflecting on the impact of war or discussing the nuances of modern love, the festival allowed us to broaden our perspectives and grow as critical thinkers and storytellers.  

As we left Ferrara, happy to come back to the hot Roman temperataures, after  having experienced the typical Northern Italy cold for three days, we carried with us not only new knowledge and inspiration but also a renewed sense of responsibility to approach our future work with integrity, empathy, and a commitment to telling stories that matter. 

Vittoria and Annalucia

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