Dear friends of My Country Talks,

Hello everyone and welcome to the last newsletter of 2023. What a year it’s been! Our work in 2023 brought together people from 112 countries in The World Talks, helped create spaces for dialogue in three continents – from Thailand to Argentina – and connected neighbors to solve local problems.  

As we reflect on the last 12 months, full of crises but also democratic triumphs, it’s clear that bridge building and constructive journalism is more important than ever. We look forward to the exciting projects we have planned to continue our work in 2024.

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One more dialogue challenge: Christmas dinner

As we meet friends and family for the holidays, many people may find themselves dreading the Christmas dinner table. In fact, in a 2022 poll conducted in the USA, nearly one in five people said that politics have “hurt their friendships or family relationships”. But political divisions don’t have to tear us apart. Finding a constructive way to talk about politics is actually good for democracy. But where to start?  

Our partners at the New Community Foundation in Poland are here to help. They have prepared a survival guide for talking politics over the holidays. 

Click here for more information (in Polish)

A new platform for European media

The Display Platform for European media launched to the public on December 12! Display Europe is a media platform featuring original content with a European perspective in 15 languages, as well as a network of small and independent media from around the continent. It aims to break filter bubbles and give citizens across Europe access to reliable information, from podcasts to investigations to an original European talk show. My Country Talks is part of a consortium of 17 organisations that created Display, and the project has been co-funded with a grant from the European Union. 

Check it out!

Reconstructing Europe in times of crisis

At the end of November, My Country Talks was included in the "Re-Konstruktionen" project at the Villa Vigoni German-Italian Centre for the European Dialogue. The two-day conference provided a space to discuss and present solutions for how the European Union can overcome multiple crises – including rising polarisation and a media ecosystem facing financial and political pressure. Thank you to Villa Vigoni for hosting us.  

Europe Talks 2024 call for partners 

Europe Talks 2024 is right around the corner! In the spring of 2024, thousands of Europeans will debate the issues of the EU elections in many events online and around the continent. If you are a media organisation looking to engage your readers join our media partner network! 

You can find more information here