Registrations are open at the University of Verona for the first-level Master’s program in “European Communication, Media and Intercultural Journalism,” organized by the Center for Intercultural Studies of the Department of Human Sciences and directed by Agostino Portera, professor of Intercultural Pedagogy. The program aims to train professionals capable of working in newsrooms, press offices, international communication and social media management, with a particular focus on the European and intercultural dimensions.
The Master is offered in a blended format, with online lessons on the University’s e-learning platform and three in-person weekend seminars in Verona. Teaching activities begin on 20 November 2026. The course is worth 60 university credits (CFU) and will conclude in autumn 2027 with the thesis defense.
At the core of the curriculum is the increasingly close relationship between journalism, digital communication and the international dimension. Career opportunities indicated by the Master include online newsrooms, news agencies and outlets specializing in foreign affairs and the European Union, as well as press offices for companies, public bodies and NGOs, social media management and the production of multimedia content, videos and podcasts.
“We offer a university-level program that brings together theory and practice. The intercultural, international and European approach is the most solid way to address the challenges of contemporary communication,” Portera emphasizes.
Among the instructors are, in addition to Portera, Caterina Fratea, professor of European Union Law, and Marta Milani, an expert in intercultural competencies. They are joined by journalists and communication professionals including Alessio Pisanò, director of the EU Video News agency in Brussels; Emanuele Bonora of Milano Finanza; Sara Mauroner and Elena Guerra for press office and social media topics; Tiziana Cavallo for podcasting; and media analyst and writer Maurizio Corte.
The teaching program is divided into three modules and covers journalistic writing and digital journalism, with a focus on artificial intelligence, European journalism, videomaking, the theory and technique of podcasting, press office communication, intercultural and multimedia journalism, and social media management.
Theoretical training is complemented by a 100-hour internship, which can be carried out in Italy or abroad and, upon request, extended. The final thesis also includes a project work designed to be usable in students’ professional paths.
The Master also offers a web newsroom managed by the cultural association ProsMedia Ets, which collaborates with the Center for Intercultural Studies: an optional online laboratory dedicated to journalistic writing, multimedia communication and research. Masterclasses are also planned on institutional and political communication in Europe, international investigative journalism, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism, intercultural mediation and conflict management.
A tutoring service will support enrolled students in managing their study path, balancing work and coursework, and preparing the thesis. The format is also designed for those already working or living far from Verona: the Center for Intercultural Studies has 25 years of experience managing university Master’s programs and has organized distance university training for 15 years.
The Master is open to holders of bachelor’s and master’s degrees and equivalent qualifications; those without a degree may participate as auditors. It targets young people seeking first entry into the labor market, communication professionals wishing to update their skills, and those from other sectors aiming for professional repositioning.
The enrollment fee is €3,916, payable in two installments and tax-deductible at 19% on the income tax return. Discounts are available for recent graduates and there is the possibility of accessing a state-guaranteed honor loan without personal collateral.