Francesca Maria Lorenzini

“Unbound,” a podcast miniseries produced for Podium.me, is now available on Spotify.

I came up with this idea in November 2024, shortly after moving to Jordan to report on the Middle East for English-language outlets.

Fresh out of Columbia Journalism School, I found myself reflecting on the limitations I had felt within Italian media—how it never seemed like a space where I could do the kind of journalism I aspired to.

Back in 2022, while applying to journalism schools, I already knew I couldn’t see a future for myself as a journalist in Italy. The industry felt stagnant, closed off, and riddled with structural barriers. I realized this wasn’t just a personal feeling—it was part of a broader sense of disillusionment that had shaped my generation. Since I was a teenager, I felt the only way to chase my dreams was to leave Italy and pursue opportunities in English-language media. That feeling has only grown stronger over time.

It’s a sentiment shared by many. In the last 15 years, thousands of Italians have left the country in search of better job prospects, and only a small percentage has returned. For young journalists, the frustration runs particularly deep. Some move abroad to find work in more dynamic media environments; others stay and try to survive in a system defined by precarious contracts, poor pay, and a culture of self-censorship.

“Unbound” was born from a need to tell these stories. This three-part podcast gives voice to the struggles and hopes of young Italian journalists navigating an uncertain future. What struck me most in making it was their determination: despite everything, they keep pushing forward, trying to make space for themselves in the field they love.

TRAILER

BEYOND BORDERS – EPISODE 1

WITHING BORDERS – EPISODE 2

BREAKING THE FRAME – EPISODE 3