Journalists from across the Balkans gathered in Skopje for a hands-on mobile storytelling training led by NarativAI President Aleksandar Manasiev, focusing on short-form, smartphone-first journalism.
Author: NarativAi
Journalists and media practitioners from Greece, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia gathered in Skopje for a mobile journalism training led by Aleksandar Manasiev, President of NarativAI – Center for Media Innovation in the Balkans.
The training was held as part of a Deutsche Welle (DW) project funded by the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and focused on how smartphones can become powerful tools for producing strong, engaging short-form stories — effectively turning a mobile phone into a “studio in your pocket.”
The session centered on the Foundations of Mobile Storytelling, introducing participants to the key elements of digital storytelling: structure, visuals, emotion, and impact.
Participants debated approaches to crafting short-form video stories of up to three minutes within the classic hook–conflict–resolution narrative framework. Emphasis was placed on the importance of capturing attention in the first three seconds, maintaining a clear narrative flow, and keeping audiences engaged in fast-moving digital environments.
Photo by: Arbnora Mehmeti
A strong focus was placed on visual storytelling techniques, encouraging participants to think visually when filming with smartphones. Practical examples demonstrated how framing, shot selection, sequencing, and visual continuity can strengthen storytelling and reduce reliance on heavy narration.
The training also explored emotion and engagement through human-centered storytelling, highlighting the role of authenticity and credibility in building trust with audiences. Participants discussed how to create emotional connection in short formats by focusing on real people, real voices, and meaningful context — without sacrificing journalistic standards.
Recognizing the realities of today’s media landscape, the session addressed multiplatform storytelling concepts, showing how a single story idea can be adapted into different formats, including an online article, short video, or social media reel. Participants shared practical tips on adapting content for web and social platforms, adjusting tone, pacing, and visuals to meet platform-specific audiences.
Beyond skills and techniques, the training enabled fruitful discussions and an active exchange of story ideas, allowing participants to pitch concepts, reflect on shared challenges, and receive feedback from peers and the trainer. The collaborative atmosphere strengthened cross-border perspectives and encouraged regional storytelling approaches.
(This text was written and reviewed by the editor with support from artificial intelligence tools for language editing and stylistic refinement. More on how NarativAI uses AI — Link)