Frankenstein Journalism debates the role of journalism in contemporary times

On 20 May, Lusófona University – Porto University Centre hosted the 10th Frankenstein Journalism Conference, an initiative organised by final-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences, specialising in Journalism, as part of the curricular unit Transmedia and Hybrid Narratives, under the supervision of Professor Vanessa Rodrigues.

This year’s edition marked a decade of the event and focused on the theme “Frankenstein Journalist” — a metaphor for the ongoing reinvention, fragmentation, and resilience that characterise journalistic practice in the contemporary world.

The conference took place throughout the day and included the presentation of the new design of the Infomedia project, developed by the undergraduate students.

The morning programme was held in the university’s Main Hall and opened with contributions from students Mariana Dias and Matilde Domingues, followed by Professor Vanessa Rodrigues, who reflected on the ten-year journey of Infomedia. The session also featured testimonies from alumni, an interactive quiz, and presentations on national and global journalism contexts, led by João Bettencourt and Inês Marques.

The morning concluded with a roundtable discussion featuring invited speakers Dora Mota, Fernando Coelho, Vanessa Rodrigues, Daniel Dias, and Ricardo Garzon, who shared insights into current practices, areas of specialisation, vulnerabilities, and the ongoing transformation of the profession.

In the afternoon, the programme continued with a second presentation of Infomedia, this time by Vasco Ferreira, followed by another intervention by Professor Vanessa Rodrigues, reinforcing the project’s relevance in the academic and professional development of the students.

Alumni testimonies were once again shared, and the quiz was repeated, this time preceded by contextual presentations by Luís Moura and Nuno Canossa. A second panel of guests — Beatriz Dias, Sofia Craveiro, Marta Bacelar, and Vanessa Rodrigues — addressed the emerging challenges of communication in digital and hybrid environments.

Throughout the day, the 10th Frankenstein Journalism Conference established itself as a space for critical reflection, experience exchange, and debate on the present and future of journalism, fostering interdisciplinarity and strengthening academia’s role in training professionals who are conscious, innovative, and committed to the ethical and social principles of the field.

View the Event Photos on the Lusófona University Facebook page

Photography / Video
Sofia Pereira and Mariana Devezas

Editing
Catarina Machado

Coverage
Sofia Pereira and Mariana Devezas

News
Sofia Pereira