Anthony Adornato, associate professor and chair of broadcast and digital journalism at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, recently completed a three-week Fulbright Specialist assignment in Kosovo. During his time there, he trained journalists at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), the country’s public service broadcaster, as part of the New Trends in Communication project.
Adornato participated in field reporting with RTK journalists on various stories and led sessions focusing on social media and audience engagement. “It was such a rewarding experience,” Adornato said. “I was welcomed with open arms and felt right at home at RTK.”
RTK, established after the Kosovo War from February 1998 to June 1999, operates both radio and television platforms. It is Kosovo’s national broadcaster, delivering news throughout the country via terrestrial and satellite networks to both residents and members of the Kosovar diaspora who left after the war. The organization provides programming in Albanian and Serbian, reflecting linguistic diversity in Kosovo. RTK is primarily funded through the state budget, which has raised concerns about editorial independence and sustainability.
Adornato worked closely with RTK’s social media and website teams as well as newsroom journalists. He accompanied reporters covering stories such as a court case involving a politician and environmental issues caused by river pollution—both featured on RTK’s national evening news. He also led practical sessions on mobile journalism, multimedia storytelling, and social media strategy. The social media team quickly adopted new Instagram approaches developed during these sessions to improve content quality and interaction with followers. Training also covered trends like solutions journalism and audience engagement tactics aimed at building trust within communities.
“RTK’s role is absolutely critical,” Adornato said about its function in Kosovo’s young democracy. “Witnessing efforts to build democratic systems, particularly a free press, was incredibly impactful. As a public broadcaster, RTK is central to informing citizens, promoting transparency and contributing to a shared national identity in a post-conflict society.” He noted that RTK helps counter disinformation campaigns from foreign actors such as Russia—and to some extent Serbia—that seek to undermine Kosovo’s independence.
Adornato observed similarities between journalists in Kosovo and those in the United States: “One of the most striking similarities is the shared passion for journalism. In both countries, journalists are deeply committed to truth-telling and serving the public interest.” Despite facing challenges like outdated equipment, staffing shortages, low wages, threats to editorial independence due to government funding structures, lack of sustainable funding sources, and an ongoing financial crisis caused by failure of institutions to allocate approved budgets—the staff remains dedicated.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), along with local associations such as the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), have called on authorities to ensure stable funding for RTK.
Regarding future collaboration with RTK journalists following his visit: “We ended my stay by discussing future visits and ongoing collaboration. I see this Fulbright Specialist experience as just the beginning of a long-term partnership.”
For faculty interested in similar opportunities abroad through Fulbright programs: “A Fulbright—whether through the Specialist Program or the U.S. Scholar Program—is personally and professionally enriching in ways that exceeded my expectations. It offers a unique opportunity to share your expertise while also learning from colleagues abroad.” He added that these experiences often lead to longer-term collaborations; for example, after teaching mobile journalism courses during his 2021 Fulbright Scholar term in Italy he continues annual visits there.
He encouraged prospective applicants to review application requirements carefully for time commitments involved—pointing out that while Scholar positions typically require sabbaticals due their semester-long minimums, Specialist roles are shorter-term—and suggested reaching out locally for advice: “There is a CNY Fulbright Chapter that could be of help too—the members have taken part in some type of Fulbright and include professors and practitioners.”
