A group of international DW Akademie trainees from the 2012 to 2014 program has won the 2015 CNN Journalist Award in the “online” category. “Meine Oma, das Regime und ich (My grandma, the regime and me)” is a German-language multimedia project that shares the stories of six women from around the world who have all lived through dictatorships and social upheaval. The jury recognized both the production quality and the effect of the powerful narratives, all of which provide a rich example of how to tell stories using a combination of journalistic mediums online.

Stories from countries as far removed as China and Brazil all open an intimate window on history and culture while expressing a common tone  of adversity and perseverence which resonates with people all over the world.  The success of the project and its global significance is indicative of how DW Akademie combines a wide diversity of young talent with innovative methods of teaching and producing journalism.

The CNN Journalist Award distinguishes the best and brightest young journalists who work with international news. The prize was given out at an awards ceremony on March 24 in London.

Guest commentary

Fabian von der Mark, Senior Producer for Life Links

In the multimedia age, good television programming will succeed by standing out from the content overload that is constantly bombarding audiences. People may expect something different from TV journalism than they did ten years ago but they still pay attention to stories that reach them personally with dynamism, insight and perspective.

There is no precise formula for creating original television, but good storytelling and a compelling protagonist are fundamental elements that will always connect with audiences. Everything starts with reporters in the field. For our new multimedia series, Life Links, we have put together a diverse team of young journalists and are sending them around the world to meet young people and listen to them talk about the issues that are holding them back.

We start with a core concept for each episode, but it comes down to the creativity and insight of our reporters to tie the essential elements together and find the story behind the story. The process is unscripted and nothing is guaranteed, but we are not looking for predictable answers. We are trying to share the stories of a generation with real people who tell it like it is, not like we think it should be.

If you look closely, you will see that the young people who share their stories with us may come from many different places – but they also have many things in common. We have interviewed North Korean defectors, Roma in Paris or Bolivian coca farmers and we work together as a team to take these individual stories and weave them together to create a single voice that speaks clearly about universal problems. The depth of experience and the international environment at DW makes it the perfect atmosphere to bring these stories to life.

As the series takes off we will explore how issues like identity, drug use and family problems affect individuals in different ways. Through telling these stories on television and by heavily incorporating online multimedia, we can create a global narrative and begin conversations with which young people everywhere can share their realities. The result are documentaries that stand out and speak out.

The obstacles every young person faces are as diverse as the dreams they are trying to realize. I believe the stories shared on Life Links will ultimately show us that sometimes what holds you back can also be what drives you forwards.

Today, Deutsche Welle officially launched Destination Europe – its multimedia project examining the challenges and opportunities associated with migration and present a realistic picture of life in Europe.

What drives young Africans to search for a new life in Europe? How do they get there? And do their dreams come true? The 15-part “Destination Europe” series goes inside the real lives of African migrants and follows them from the moment they decide to leave their home to their experiences in Europe.

The project includes radio dramas, video portraits, informational charts, picture galleries and social media activities, like an online discussion using Facebook, with experts and those affected. “Destination Europe” is available in English, French and Arabic, with a special in German.

DW wants to help create a platform for dialogue about human rights and globalization with new programming and content in 30 languages. This multimedia project, Human Rights 2011, is a reflection of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, which is taking place from June 20-22, 2011 in Bonn. The conference’s topic this year is “Human Rights and Globalization – Challnges for the Media”.

The multimedia project on human rights 2011 will examine modern basic needs like the right to work, food and housing. Unique reports and features shed light on individual stories from around the world – whether that be rising prices and famine in Senegal, drug-dealing gangs in Colombia and dangerous jobs in India.

Special insights are provided from human rights experts like Monika Lüke, the Secretary General from Amnesty International in Germany and John Rugie, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Find out more about Human Rights 2011.

Or check out the line-up for this year’s Global Media Forum.