The Power of Storytelling

By Veronica Hibbert 

Today, we spoke with Besa Luci from Kosovo 2.0. Over the past few days, I have been researching the independent media platform in preparation for our meeting. I was excited to finally be able to ask our questions and hear directly from someone involved in shaping its vision. So far, we’ve met with a wide range of people, The New Social Initiative, Kosovo Women’s Network and Elizabeth Gowing, and each has offered us a very different lens through which to understand Kosovo’s social and political dynamics. I was especially looking forward to this session because it gave us the chance to engage with a completely different kind of organisation; a media outlet that prioritises depth, critical reflection and the power of storytelling. 

 

Something that stayed with me from our meeting with Besa Luci was the idea of slow journalism. Before this, I hadn’t really thought about how much the speed of today’s media affects the quality of the stories we consume. We’re constantly flooded with updates, headlines, and opinions. There’s always pressure to be the first, to keep scrolling, and to react instantly. When Besa talked about Kosovo 2.0’s approach, it felt like a breath of fresh air. They focus on telling stories that are carefully researched and thoughtfully written, stories that take time, dig deeper, and ask why something matters, not just what happened.

 

This deeply resonated with me and made me reflect on the kind of media I want to engage with. It made me realise how often I skim through articles or scroll past posts without fully understanding the context. I’m accustomed to consuming information quickly, so I frequently forget how powerful it can be to slow down and truly listen. I found it inspiring that Kosovo 2.0 doesn’t just report on events; they create spaces for voices and perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. 

 

Hearing Besa speak about their work reminded me that good journalism is not just about speed. This meeting left a strong impression on me, and I feel lucky that we had the opportunity to speak with someone who is challenging the way media works and demonstrating the power of storytelling. 

Image from Kosovo 2.0

https://kosovotwopointzero.com/en/ending-the-silence-cycle/