OF MASSIMILIANO BORGIA
Here we are. The countdown begins for this third edition of the Food Journalism Festival. Once again in Turin; once again in the heart of the city which is the capital of the cultural debate on food. A Festival, which moves, albeit timidly, its first steps in its future appearance as a true international Festival. A Festival celebrated in Italy, the corner of the world where food is the first topic of discussion, one of the great drivers of the economy and, above all, where food is more sought after.
Let's start from here, from the "claim".
Today, citizens are increasingly aware of being bearers of a new right: the right to a healthy and satisfying diet. A right that, to be satisfied, needs good information. And here is the first motor of the Festival, the citizens, with their right to a correct, balanced food information, supported by facts, data, authoritative opinions.
But is this the quality of information and communication that we receive every day from websites, social media, TV and print media?
Are journalists prepared to respond to this request for quality information in an area that, until yesterday, was reserved for a few editorial specialists?
Are food bloggers and influencers fully aware of the social role they play in their professions?
Where is this food information going, how is it evolving?
Will the world of science and research, businesses, associations, manage to communicate better?
And will journalists be able to understand that those worlds must be represented as they deserve?
These are some of the questions that a Festival asks itself where we also talk about freelance journalists' rights, information labor market, tools to improve our professionalism, relationship between companies, public bodies and information.
But the Festival is not just thoughts and words, it is also intelligent relaxation, curious leisure, discovery. For this there are off events and press tours where we learn many things that we did not know that can serve as a starting point for pieces or to enrich our knowledge.
Here it is the Festival of Food Journalism, so simple, unpretentious, with no particular ambitions; but with a great desire to be useful, to serve something and to be a good reason to come to Turin and Piedmont. At the end of February.
