Universal themes make local stories relatable to a broader audience, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with the specific cultural context can connect with the narrative.
The workshop aimed to improve Radio Slovenia's coverage of rural areas by encouraging reporters to experiment and create stories in underreported regions, fostering a stronger connection with local audiences.
Ida Kus focuses on making her stories deeply local while ensuring they are interesting and delivered in a compelling way, yet still universal enough to resonate with listeners outside her immediate community.
Meta Hrovat struggled with the transition from being a top-level athlete to an average person, facing pressure and criticism from the public. She also had to adapt to managing her family's outdoor agency without prior business experience.
The central theme is the universal struggle with perfectionism and the realization that one doesn't need to be the best or perfect to be enough, a message that resonates beyond the local context.
Kekic is a famous shepherd boy from Slovenian folklore who is deeply ingrained in the local culture, with many Slovenians shouting his name in the Alps to hear the echo, symbolizing his enduring presence in their heritage.
Matej Propotnik aimed to enhance Radio Slovenia's local coverage by taking reporters out of their urban-centric routines and encouraging them to create stories in rural areas, thereby improving their connection with underreported regions.
Meta Hrovat plays the role of Mojca, a character locked in a cage who is rescued by children in the fairy tale land of Kekic, symbolizing her own journey from being a top athlete to finding peace in a new role.
The story from Slovenia on this episode of Sound School is hyper-local -- so local, you might not catch all the cultural references. But, the reporter, Ajda Kus, says that's okay. The key to telling a great local story is to give weight to universal themes so that all listeners can still relate to the piece.