Following the impactful presentations by Eva Tamara Asboth and Andreas Schulz-Tomančok (read more here), Sandra Förster expanded the CMC’s presence at the 22nd European Media Management Association (emma) conference with three compelling contributions. Held from 3–5 June 2025 at Luiss Business School in Rome, the conference explored “Empowering Media Through Sustainable and Human-Centered Innovations”.

In her solo presentation, “Navigating Uncertainty: Can Service Journalism Bridge the Coverage Gap in Times of Crisis?”, Sandra examined how service journalism can help address public information needs during disruptive events, using COVID-19 as a case study. Based on an integrative literature review, the study identified eleven key dynamics through which solution-oriented content and interactive formats foster self-efficacy, informed decision-making, and overall public well-being. The findings also highlight the broader potential of service journalism for sustainability and crisis communication.

In addition, Sandra presented two co-authored papers on behalf of Denise Voci:

• “Trust in Media Brand as a Competitive Advantage: Driving Engagement, Loyalty, and Willingness to Pay” and“‘It’s the Gut, Not the Data’: How Intuition-Driven Leadership Fosters Resilient Innovation During Major Crises”. Both contributions were developed within the framework of the FWF-funded project “From Transition to Transformation”, which investigates pathways toward resilient and sustainable media systems.