OvtarCast On The Move

The project combined podcasts with in-depth articles, photo reportages, short-form videos, print and radio, making public-interest journalism accessible to audiences across different generations and platforms. This approach strengthened Ovtar24.si’s connection with the local community while significantly expanding its digital reach and increasing its visibility and recognition across the region.

Project Activities

Ovtar24.si organised nine pop-up podcast recordings at different locations across the Slovenske gorice region, bringing journalists, guests and residents together outside the traditional newsroom environment. All guests had a connection to the region, while the topics were selected for their relevance to everyday life and community wellbeing.

The conversations addressed subjects including dementia and ageing, mental health and burnout, suicide prevention, breast cancer, healthcare, architecture and housing, faith, music and gastronomy. Several episodes opened conversations around sensitive issues that often receive limited attention in local public discourse.

Each podcast became the starting point for a broader multimedia story. The newsroom produced nine podcast episodes, nine in-depth articles, nine photo reportages and 27 short videos for social media. Stories were also published in the print edition of Ovtar24, adapted for Radio Prlek and promoted through the Ovtar24 newsletter, social media, posters, flyers and a public LCD display.

Audience participation was incorporated throughout the process. Residents could attend recordings, submit questions for guests through Instagram Stories and provide feedback through an audience survey. Local municipalities also supported outreach by sharing invitations to recordings with their communities.

The project enabled the small local newsroom to test a new model of community-centred multimedia journalism. Rather than producing separate pieces of content for individual platforms, one locally relevant story could be developed across podcast, web, video, photography, print and radio, reaching audiences according to their preferred way of consuming news.

What is the impact?

OvtarCast on the Move helped address information gaps in Slovenske gorice, a predominantly rural region where many local issues, experiences and perspectives receive limited media attention. By taking journalism out of the newsroom and directly into communities, Ovtar24.si created opportunities for residents and local experts to participate in conversations about issues affecting everyday life. All podcast guests had strong links to the region, highlighting local knowledge and expertise while strengthening community-centred journalism.

The project also demonstrated how a small independent local newsroom can counter news deserts by making public-interest journalism accessible across different platforms. Through podcasts, articles, videos, photography, print and radio, Ovtar24.si reached audiences with different media habits and strengthened its role as an independent source of local information at a time of increasing concentration in the local media landscape.
The project strengthened the relationship between Ovtar24.si and its community by turning residents from audiences into active participants. They attended recordings, submitted questions and shared feedback, while the podcasts opened conversations on sensitive topics such as suicide prevention, dementia, cancer, burnout and social inclusion. Audience feedback confirmed the value of this approach: 94% of respondents considered the topics important or very important, 96% said they had learned something new, and 96% believed OvtarCast contributes to stronger community connections.

The project also significantly increased Ovtar24.si’s digital reach and visibility. During the implementation period, Facebook followers grew by 20%, YouTube subscribers by 111% and TikTok followers by 108%, while reach increased by 45% on Facebook, 441% on Instagram and 222% on TikTok. The experience showed that multimedia, community-centred journalism can help a small local newsroom reach new audiences while building stronger and more lasting connections with its community.

Project Links

Podcast Episodes

• Živeti z rakom in ne obupati ⦿ Teja Dajčman Topolovec ⦿ OvtarCast #9
• Vloga družinskega zdravnika v času hitrih diagnoz ⦿ Ines Emeršič ⦿ OvtarCast #6
• Slastno je – ali je tudi strastno? ⦿ Gregor Brodnjak ⦿ OvtarCast #5
• Kdo smo brez svojih spominov? ⦿ dr. Milica Gregorič Kramberger ⦿ OvtarCast #2
  

In-depth Stories

• Samomor - smrt, ki jo je mogoče preprečiti
• Največje plačilo je, ko ti gost reče, da je bilo noro dobro
• Od šokantne diagnoze do sprejetja lastne nepopolnosti

Photo Stories

• Foto zgodba: Od šokantne diagnoze do sprejetja lastne nepopolnosti

Social media content

• TikTok Post 1
• TikTok Post 2
• TikTok Post 3
• Instagram Post
• Facebook Post

Project Pictures