Weekend.19 took over Rovinj today. Following yesterday’s inaugural Health.Weekend, Friday brought the festival’s full program to the Old Tobacco Factory Rovinj and Grand Park Hotel.
The second day of one of the region’s most exciting festivals tackled some of today’s most pressing questions, from the fight against sensationalism in journalism and the digital transformation of public administration to emerging technologies and the skills that will shape the future.
Across several stages throughout the day, speakers explored the industries influencing everyday life while also taking audiences behind the scenes of companies and people that are already widely known.
The News We Don’t Want to Hear — and Journalism That Demands More
How can the media regain public trust in an era where every click and reaction matters?
During the panel “It’s Not Just Bad News — It’s News!”, Danish journalist and founder of the Constructive Institute, Ulrik Haagerup, argued that reality is often not as bleak as the way it is portrayed through the media.
Speaking about constructive journalism, he stressed that the approach is not about sugarcoating reality or avoiding difficult issues.
“Constructive journalism is not politics. It is not activism. You cannot be constructive unless you first have a well-documented problem.”
At the panel “Nothing’s Gonna Ruin My Day! – Why Are We Avoiding the News?”, Prof. Marijana Grbeša Zenzerović of the Faculty of Political Science and Prof. Ivan Burić, a sociologist at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, joined moderator Robert Tomljenović, Deputy President of the Council for Electronic Media, to discuss the growing phenomenon of news avoidance.
According to Reuters Institute data presented during the panel, 63 percent of Croatian citizens avoid the news.
Among the reasons discussed were anxiety caused by negative news, distrust of sensationalist and clickbait headlines, and a perception that the overall quality of journalism has declined.
“News deliberately looks for the negative side of every story, even when there are positive aspects as well. That is the key problem,” Grbeša Zenzerović said.
She added that audiences are becoming increasingly capable of recognizing exaggeration and the disconnect between headlines and the actual content of articles. Instead of attracting readers, such practices can create aversion and further undermine trust in the media.
Emil Tedeschi, President of the Management Board of Atlantic Grupa, joined radio host Daniel Bilić for a conversation in which he described music as “the greatest force in this cosmos,” sharing his lifelong passion for music alongside his business career.
Reflecting on his musical background, Tedeschi said he prefers functioning as part of a band rather than as a “solo artist.” Discussing contemporary issues and the impact of artificial intelligence on authorship, he concluded that the boundaries between human creativity and technology will inevitably become increasingly intertwined.
Inside the New Kupola: The Stories Behind Companies Everyone Knows
One of this year’s new additions to Finance.Weekend is Kupola, a new venue dedicated to telling the stories behind some of the companies people encounter in everyday life.
Through the “WHAT DOES ... ACTUALLY DO?” format, audiences were offered a closer look behind the scenes of familiar businesses.
Matko Maravić, CEO of InterCapital, introduced the audience to the world of investment banking — far removed from the stereotypical image of “Wall Street wolves” shouting across offices.
He explained that the profession is largely built around analysis, creativity, expertise and the ability to recognize trends years in advance.
While many people still rely on traditional savings, Maravić emphasized the importance of capital markets and long-term financial planning, noting that behind financial charts are always people, ideas and decisions that ultimately drive the economy.
Izabel Jelenić, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Infobip, explained how the company connects businesses with their customers through a wide range of communication channels, from SMS to emerging technologies.
He also discussed RCS, a richer successor to traditional SMS, as well as artificial intelligence, which Infobip sees as an important part of the future of communications.
“We like to say that we are a kind of communications backbone, precisely because we enable businesses to communicate with their customers,” Jelenić said.
From a University Degree to the Edge of the Universe
During the opening panel of the inaugural Education.Weekend, Croatian astronomer and science communicator Korado Korlević joined Prof. Božo Skoko for a conversation about the future, artificial intelligence and education.
Korlević highlighted creativity, critical thinking and humanity as some of the most important values for the new era.
“History shows that even in times of crisis, there have been communities that chose responsibility, ethics and the pursuit of something better. The question is whether we can recognize them today and choose to invest in them,” he said.
People, Leadership and Technology in the Age of AI
At HR.Weekend, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, professor at University College London and Columbia University and Chief Innovation Officer at Russell Reynolds Associates, discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming HR, leadership and the future of work.
“If everyone has AI, and AI becomes like Wi-Fi, electricity or smartphones, the only competitive advantage will be culture,” he said.
Chamorro-Premuzic identified emotional intelligence, curiosity, experience, judgment and vision as essential human capabilities, warning that as automation becomes more widespread, preserving the ability to think independently will become increasingly important.
As part of Tech.Weekend, Damir Habijan, Croatia’s Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, discussed the digitalization of public administration, the development of the e-Citizens system, the adoption of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
He also highlighted planned investments of €500 million into the economy, as well as the importance of connecting existing infrastructure as a prerequisite for broader AI adoption.
From Vinyl Records to the Dance Floor
During the afternoon, the program at Slušaona powered by Rotary Audio continued with a focus on vinyl records, including presentations of releases by Songkillers, Jinx and Cubismo.
Tonight’s entertainment program features the ID Polo Party powered by Zubak Group, with DJ Filip Jelaš, followed by the Studio 54 Party.
The evening will conclude at the Open Air Stage, where the ZIP Event Party with DJ Kyliann is scheduled to take place.
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