Impact Week Bilbao was the event that, in 2024, brought together the global community of changemakers engaged in impact investing. Each edition of the Impact Week offers an opportunity to explore innovative ideas, foster collaborations, and discover emerging trends that benefit both people and the planet.

At Impact Week, anyone working in the impact field is welcome, and the edition held from November 27 to 29, focused on the theme “Madness, Boldness, Brightness”, was a concrete example of this inclusive spirit.

The Impact Journalism Panel – November 28

As part of the agenda of this international event, Torino Social Impact hosted a panel titled “The role of journalism in the impact economy”, which took place on November 28.

The session explored how journalism can contribute to driving change in a context where all actors in society—from institutions to businesses—are called to engage in tackling major environmental and social challenges. Participants learned how so-called impact journalism can serve as a vehicle to spread best practices that foster social progress.

The panel featured three speakers, all experts in the field of impact journalism:

• Julie Pybus – Editor at Pioneers Post, the independent news network for the global impact community. Her work is grounded in the principles of solutions journalism, providing coverage of positive stories that examine how society’s challenges can be addressed.

• Zoe McDonagh – Member of the global Outreach and Strategy team at the Media Development Investment Fund, where she focuses on funding and investor relations. She previously spent almost a decade at Fondazione CRT, gaining extensive experience in implementing international projects on impact entrepreneurship.

• Paula Garrero – Journalist and member of Impact Investor, a news platform dedicated to sustainable and impact finance. Impact Investor explores the impact investment market, where financial returns meet social and environmental benefits.

This session was part of the broader Torino Impact Journalism initiative, launched in March 2024 by Torino Social Impact, with the aim of placing journalism at the center of the debate. Thanks to the contributions of experts and new local collaborations, the initiative explores how journalism can play an active role in promoting social change, as well as informing the public.