Manuela Tomić: From failure to success story in journalism!

Manuela Tomić: From failure to success story in journalism!

Manuela Tomić, a 22-year-old aspiring journalist, describes her experiences during a formative “journalist trip” in her book “Zehnfingermärchen. Kleine Prose”. In this story she describes a trip to Sarajevo, where she wanted to work under the guidance of an experienced German journalist. However, this journey turned out to be challenging. Tomić had to prepare for interviews on the plane and urged his experienced colleague not to waste any time. After landing, she encountered various problems, including wearing unsuitable clothing for attending Islamic schools and having difficulty translating. These experiences ultimately led to her bursting into tears in front of the journalist when a barking German Shepherd frightened her. After just a few days she became ill and the return flight ended with the journalist's sobering assessment that she was unsuitable for the job of foreign correspondent. In the following four years, Tomić did not write a single report and has not visited Sarajevo again since.

Tomić's own story is shaped by her experiences as a refugee: she was born in Sarajevo in 1988 and fled with her family to southern Carinthia during the Yugoslav War. A feeling of alienation and the emotional wounds of war shaped her childhood when her family found a new home in a small town near Völkermarkt. Her mother found work in a pizzeria and her father became a truck driver. This biography influenced her both in her writing and in her journalistic identity. In her work, Tomić reflects on the challenges faced by journalists with a migrant background. She didn't want to deal with issues of tabloid journalism or music reporting because she didn't want to be perceived as a “quota foreigner”. This led to an aversion to the topic of migration and the feeling of being forced into certain roles.

Personal columns and literary journalism

As an editor at the weekly newspaper FURCHE and an author in Vienna, Tomić published numerous columns in literary journalism under the title “mozaik”. These columns tell of bizarre and personal experiences set between Bosnia, Carinthia and Vienna. With self-irony and humor, she illuminates the absurdities of life and captures memories of her childhood. An impressive excerpt from “Zehnfingermärchen” describes her Christmas Eve memories and the wait for her father at the substation in Obersielach.

The author has now come to the point that she can no longer withdraw from the discussion about migration. Despite her earlier decision not to write about these topics, she now reflects critically on the responsibility of journalists in reporting on minorities. She has found peace with her origins and no longer sees writing about migration as a sign of failure, but as part of her journalistic identity.

On June 27, 2025 at 6 p.m., Manuela Tomić will share her perspectives and stories with interested listeners at an event in the Eberstein Library, moderated by Sebastian Grayer. This event promises to offer insights into the complex history of migration and the challenges of journalistic work.