World Press Freedom Day with Simone Cataldi
May 02, 2025 16:15

For World Press Freedom Day, we invited Simone Cataldi to share her experience and thoughts on the impact and importance of media—now more than ever a powerful tool to deliver news, facts, and information. Simone will lead one of the tracks at YES 2025, titled Shifting the Lens: Shaping Society through Media for a Just Future.

Passionate about the arts in all their forms—be it theatre or music—Simone has also worked behind the scenes on a German TV series. This experience sparked her interest in the world of cinema and screen media. Her growing curiosity led her to take the lead on one of this year’s tracks, where she’ll explore how film and media are created and shared with the public. In today’s interview, we talked about the significant role media play in shaping our daily lives.

  • How can we avoid polarisation amid the continuous stimulus we receive through social media, advertisements, and sensationalism of the news?

Last year, we also tackled the theme of polarisation. We tried to show students that even with the constant stream of stimuli they receive, they can still choose what they need and what they don’t—what they subscribe to. Sometimes, we need to unwind through the very same use of media. For example, using apps that turn the screen black and white, or apps that let you read the news without being exposed to images… all of this helps.

Personally, I know I’m sensitive when it comes to social media. Since we can’t con trol what will pop up, I let someone else read the news for me, so I can avoid seeing things directly. It’s also essential to check the sources of the news you consume—look at who wrote it, because their perspective might be biased. So, double-check, and try to use the tools available in a way that protects your well-being.

  • Rise of the right-wing parties, shrinking of civic spaces, laws and edicts that really suffocate the right of opposition in our societies: what’s the role of the press, and most importantly, how can we deliver the idea to young generations that diminishing the voice of the press is diminishing our own freedom?

Young generations are exposed to facts, but not educated about them. They need to be guided throughout the news, teachers, educators play a crucial role in this. It would make sense to have general educators about media, but also in non formal context. After that, it is good -after reading and comprehending the news- to transform that knowledge into action. How can I use my voice? Then go and look for other voices, and if a space is not found, create a new one, or using a specific platform.

  • Do you have any personal experiences on the power of expression and storytelling that have shaped or changed your life?

I have inspirational people that i follow on the social media, they pushes me to create something beautiful with their own art, and to create it for the community. This is why I decided to go to study to Hamburg Musical Theatre.

  • What would be your message to the YES students this year (greetigns before the yes)

If you feel overwhelmed or in any sort left alone, reach out to people. That’s what community is for. And if you don’t find one, you can create a new one. If you need something there will be a way. Always and ever.

  • Since the focus of the 2025 World Press Freedom Day is on AI, what is the one thing about AI in media and media literacy that you wish everyone knew?

I would love everyone to know that AI cannot recognise when the content is, per se, AI-generated. Therefore, AI cannot be 100% true or correct. Always doublecheck the information, and never let AI has the final word on your work. If you think about it, in theatre we have always spotlights for actors. We do it because AI is not able to follow people, and if it’s not able to follow us, we cannot rely on it completely.

  • One last question: what kinds of tools and methods are you planning to use for teaching young people about this at the YES? (e.g. something as exciting as the fake news method last year?)

This year all the tracks have a very creative vein! Ther will be artcraft, there will be performative arts, simulation of debate negotiations...everything that involves a quest that needs to be solved. And when there is a need for a solution, there’s where creation starts. In my track i will let the group create a short film, to let them decide what they want to see on social media and how they want to lead the narrative. I’m very excited

Thank you Simone, for your time and your precious words.