May was a truly global and inspiring month for Hostwriter, with our team taking part in key journalism and media events across four countries and two continents. From Belgrade to Berlin, Denver to Mechelen, we immersed ourselves in conversations on disinformation, digital futures, and collaborative journalism—reaffirming our commitment to cross-border storytelling and democratic resilience.
In Belgrade, we co-hosted the final Display Europe City Session, sparking heartfelt discussions around media and democracy. Our Multimedia Editor, Gabriela Ramirez, flew to Denver for the Collaborative Journalism Summit, where she connected with U.S. journalists and explored intentional collaboration in newsrooms. In Berlin, Co-Managing Director Mercy Abang attended re:publica 25, expanding our outreach among global media thinkers. Simultaneously, Editor-in-Chief Tina Lee brought Unbias the News’ mission to Dataharvest in Mechelen and later gave a keynote on media and dialogue at the European Youth Press Forum in Berlin.
Each stop was more than just an event—it was a powerful moment to connect, learn, and expand Hostwriter’s mission. Energized and full of fresh ideas, we’re heading into June with strong momentum. Catch us next in Amsterdam for the PublicSpaces Conference—see you there!
Display City Sessions, Belgrade (May 18–21)
Hostwriter organized the latest Display Europe City Session with CMFE – Community Media Forum Europe, in Belgrade, Serbia. From the Hostwriter team, Julia Vernersson and Ruby Russel brought their expertise, which resulted in a few energizing days filled with absolutely lovely people and rich, honest conversations—some of which will soon be shared in three upcoming videocasts.
Collaborative Journalism Summit, Denver (May 15–17)
Our Multimedia Editor, Gabriela Ramirez, joined the Collaborative Journalism Summit 2025 in Denver, Colorado, which brought together an impressive mix of U.S.-based journalists, academics, and innovators who are reimagining how newsrooms can work together across the country.
From lightning talks to practical workshops, the two full-day event confirmed what we at Hostwriter hold dearly: collaboration is the future of journalism. But it also served as a timely reminder that collaboration must be intentional. It’s not just about working together, it’s about serving our communities better and offering them the value they need.
We left excited to continue supporting valuable cross-border partnerships.
re:publica 25, Berlin (May 26–28)
Theme: Generation XYZ and the Digital Society
Hostwriter Co-Managing Director Mercy Abang joined thousands of thinkers, creatives, and changemakers at re:publica 25 in Berlin—one of Europe’s most exciting festivals on the future of digital society. Under the theme “Generation XYZ,”the event tackled urgent questions around platform power, youth-driven political movements, and the role of journalism in an AI-saturated, post-truth world.
Beyond the keynotes and conversations, the conference became a powerful space to reconnect with our existing community and grow Hostwriter’s network. We met inspiring collaborators, introduced our work to new allies, and explored opportunities for future partnerships.
Mercy’s presence also marked an important step in expanding our organization’s public outreach, as we continue building bridges between investigative journalism, democracy, and the next generation of storytellers.
As always, re:publica delivered—leaving us energized, reflective, and even more determined to push forward.
Dataharvest – The European Investigative Journalism Conference (May 22–25)Unbias the News Editor in ChiefTina Lee traveled to Mechelen, Belgium to attend this year’s Dataharvest. Organized by Arena for Jounalism in Europe, this year’s conference was a powerhouse of investigative know-how, community energy, and cutting-edge tools. From OSINT deep dives to satellite data and AI-powered scraping, journalists shared how they track down wrong-doing, monitor the rich and powerful, and share complex stories with the public.
European Youth Press Forum of Member Organizations 2025 (May 29-June 1), Berlin
Tina Lee was also present back in Berlin at the European Youth Press’ FOMO meeting in Berlin Wannsee. She delivered a keynote on “The Role of Media in Building Constructive Dialogue”, to the audience representing media organizations from all over Europe, presenting examples from Unbias the News on how diversity and solutions journalism can help complicate entrenched, divisive narratives. The rest of the of forum included high profile speakers speaking about how media can foster dialogue and inclusion.
Meet Us in June: PublicSpaces Conference 2025 (June 13, Amsterdam)
We’re keeping the momentum going in June! Come meet our co-Managing Director Julia Vernersson at the PublicSpaces Conference 2025: Shaping Our Digital Future, happening on Friday, June 13 at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam.
💬 See you in Amsterdam? We’ll be there!