The three-day event, titled “The Serbian Language and Cyrillic Script in the Media,” provided a forum for expert discussion on the status of the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script in today’s media landscape. Participants explored their use across various media formats—from magazines, newspapers, and books to radio, television, and modern media platforms.
The international academic conference took place September 11–13, 2026, at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, specifically at the Faculty of Mass Media Communication at UCM. It was organized by the Association of Serbs in Slovakia in cooperation with the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava and the Association of Journalists of Vojvodina from Novi Sad. This was the second conference organized in cooperation with the Association of Serbs in Slovakia under a memorandum of cooperation.
The conference was officially opened by the rector of UCM, Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Iveta Dirgová Luptáková, Ph.D., the president of the Association of Serbs in Slovakia, Stane Ribič, and the director of the Administration for the Diaspora and Serbs in the Regions, Vladimir Kokanović.
One of the conference sessions focused on the use of the Serbian language and the Cyrillic alphabet in the media, while another addressed the topic of the Serbian language and “political” languages. The program included expert presentations, media appearances, discussions, and a concluding summary of findings.
The conference brought together participants from three continents and ten countries—the United States, South Africa, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Montenegro, Slovakia, Switzerland, Serbia, and Germany. A total of 31 authors and guests participated in the event, underscoring its international character and creating a space for the exchange of professional experiences and perspectives.
Representatives from UCM also took part in the conference. Among the invited guests were Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Ján Vyšňovský, PhD, and Mgr. et Bc. Dáša Franić, PhD. The conference organizing committee consisted of Stane Ribič, PaedDr. Ľubica Varečková, PhD., and Ing. Ladislav Gubi.
At the start of the event, conference participants honored the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius by laying a wreath at their statue on Jozef Herda Square in Trnava. This symbolic location also served as a reminder of the significance of Cyril and Methodius’s legacy for language, writing, education, and the cultural connection between nations.
The conference also provided a forum for international professional exchange and for connecting the academic and media communities. The collaboration between the Faculty of Mass Media Communication at UCM, the Association of Serbs in Slovakia, and the Association of Journalists of Vojvodina from Novi Sad presents an opportunity to further develop contacts between experts from Slovakia and Serbia.
The event thus contributed not only to professional discussion on language, media, and writing, but also to strengthening international cooperation and cultural dialogue, which are a natural part of the academic environment at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.
