9 September
TivoliVredenburg

How do you make the difference as a journalist?

On Tuesday 9 September, the fourth edition of the Festival of Journalism at Utrecht's TivoliVredenburg music venue will focus on one central question: how do you make the difference as a journalist?

At a time when truth, power and technology are shifting, the festival offers new insights, practical tools and meetings with some 250 fellow journalists from Mediahuis titles.

Register now

Introducing our first speakers

Olaf Koens

Journalist & correspondent RTL Nieuws

Madeleine Baran

Reporter The New Yorker

Lea Korsgaard

Co-founder & Editor-in-chief Zetland

More speakers

When will the festival take place?

The fourth edition of the Mediahuis Festival of Journalism takes place on 9 September 2025. We look forward to welcoming you between 09:15 and 18:30 at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.

Who is the festival for?

The Festival of Journalism is specifically for editorial colleagues from all national and regional Mediahuis titles across the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and Luxembourg. Around 250 colleagues are expected to join us.

The programme will include both Dutch and English sessions. Please note: the festival is intended solely for Mediahuis staff and is not open to external guests.

What can you expect from the festival?

The Festival of Journalism consists of a mix of workshops, training sessions and interactive keynotes. You will hear stories and examples from colleagues from other newsrooms, gain practical knowledge and surprising insights from experts, and be invited to join the conversation and debates. All sessions fit within the seven themes chosen for this year's festival:

1: Audio / podcast
2: Investigative journalism
3: Future newsrooms
4: Audience development
5: Personal development
6: Journalistic knowledge
7: Video, image & design

For the festival, you put together your personal programme. It is up to you how you want to design your festival. However, there are a number of plenary components: we kick off the festival together and we have lunch and drinks together.

The organisation of the festival consists of a team of colleagues from different Mediahuis entities.

How do you register?

The Festival of Journalism can accommodate a maximum of 250 guests. Registering is done in two steps:

1. Register your attendance. Please make sure to check with your editorial team before signing up. You can register here;
2. Ahead of the festival, you’ll receive an invitation to create your personalised programme.

How to reach TivoliVredenburg?

We recommend taking the train. TivoliVredenburg is a 3-minute walk from Utrecht Central Station. If you come by car, we advise you to park it in car park P5. There is a stamping machine in Tivoli that can be used to pay for the parking ticket. Check with your editorial team whether you can declare parking and/or travel expenses.

Is attendance at the festival compulsory?

We encourage everyone to sign up, but it is not compulsory. However, if you sign up, we expect you to be there.

What should I do if I have registered but am unable to attend?

Please let us know as soon as possible via mhlive@mediahuis.nl. Your spot will then be made available for another colleague.

What about food, drinks and sleeping accomodations?

We will provide coffee, tea, lunch, snacks and drinks.

Should you wish to spend the night in Utrecht, we recommend that you discuss the possibilities and costs with your own chief editors.

Do I have to pay for the festival?

No. The costs for the festival are covered by the editorial teams and the Mediahuis Group's Academy team.

Where can I ask additional questions about the festival?

E-mail us at mhlive@mediahuis.nl.

Will there be coverage of the festival?

Our photographer, videographer and other colleagues will be present during the festival to take photos and videos, among other things. As a visitor, you may therefore be (un)consciously photographed. You agree to this when you visit the festival. The photos and videos are used for internal purposes. Do you see yourself in a photo afterwards and are not happy with it? Please contact us via mhlive@mediahuis.nl.