Today we are bringing you the interview with Teo Marević, editor and author in the marine specialized magazine More & other digital and paper editions of the company Morski Vodiči d.o.o. Teo revealed to us how it is to be a journalist specialized for the marine industry, what he likes about his job and what he would give as advice to young people.
1. Can you tell us something about your education and how it lead you to your current work position?
In my hometown Krk I finished the high school for hotel and tourism technicians. Afterwards, I enrolled in the journalism course at VERN' university in Zagreb. Since I am originating from a tourist town, as a student I started doing seasonal jobs. When I enrolled in my university, I started working in my field alongside my studies. I was doing different journalism tasks, from writing concert reports, daily news for the local radio, national TV and daily portals to part time projects connected to the marine industry. I started sailing even before I learned how to write and read. My family also connects me to the marine industry. I love the sea and boats, so when I got the opportunity to write for the magazine More or contribute in other marine related media projects, I was more than happy to take upon these jobs. This gave me the opportunity to unite the love towards the sea and journalism.
I started working in the publishing house which publishes the renowned magazine More, boating guides in different languages, as other literature for boating, boats and education about the marine industry. While daily journalism is mostly superficial and a job that gets done extremely fast, the journalism I am working in now is focused to one industry solely and I have the opportunity to monitor a few segments in the marine industry and be dedicated to certain topics in more detail.
2. What made you interested in innovation and sustainability?
I think people are interested in innovation if they are curious by nature. It is something you either have or don't. I was always interested in how to make something better, more efficient, more advanced and this is something I base my view on life upon. You have to advance.
The intension to make something sustainable is a reflection of culture and manners, in my opinion. Sustainability is a necessary quality and I think of it as a primary task for any business, either from the perspective of ecology or economy, two aspects which often can't be united. If there is no sustainability, there is no future. Without the future I don't see the point.
3. What do you see as the main enabler of your current business?
I can't say anything in front of the company I work in, since I am not managing it. However, the main enabler for More (the Sea) is the love towards boating and the sea. We are writing about the sea, life with the sea, on the sea, boating, people who are working in the marine industry, from boatbuilders, tech enablers, fisheries, divers, sailors. Additionally, we are boating both privately and professionally. The sea is the Earth's lungs, the world's temperature regulation system and our food source. It connects us with the world, divides us from it, makes us happy and sad too. If there was no sea, there would be nothing at all.
I enjoy my work because I can meet interesting people and visit places which not everyone can enjoy from such a close distance. The marine industry allows me to visit new boat models, their belonging equipment, talk to people in R&D, visit shipyards, marinas, sail makers, service stations, charter companies, but also scientists, artists, legislators and rangers. It is inspirational to work in an environment where every day something new is happening, every day you are surrounded by new ideas and processes in product optimization.
4. What would you state as the main benefit of working with the marine industry and blue economy?
Working in the marine industry allows people to get acquainted with man's influence on the environment. We have to be honest and confess, that as humans we aren't doing too well. We need to re-learn how to live in harmony with the environment.
At the moment, initiatives are quite symbolic. We are holding onto paper straws, both literally and figuratively speaking. However, legislative works allows for positive changes. The advantage of working in the marine industry and blue economy is the chance of changing things by ourselves and witness the changes in the environment. Boaters are people with different backgrounds, who by boating witness how is the industry affecting the environment. If we make a positive step towards sustainability, our example can be translated onto other industries as well.
5. How does networking help you in your work?
Networking is the basic tool for good journalism, alongside an important aspect for any business. Currently, many texts originate from information retrieved online. However, the true story, told from a personal experience, can be formed only if we live it by ourselves or someone directly shares their experience with us.
We are living in a data-driven era. Anyone who wants to be an industry leader or simply survive, has to be very well informed, connected to the people in the industry,
talk to experts and people from related industries, exchange opinions and ideas &
of course listen to what others have to say. Networking is extremely important when we run into problems and interruptions on the market. From trade, production or R&D, networking is the enabler for different businesses.
6. Would you advise young people to take your steps or would you change something? What is your main motivator?
It is difficult for me to give advice to young people, since I am young too. However, from personal experience I can tell that working in different companies, positions and job types have me a broad perspective. I can understand better how SMEs work, but also larger corporations. Each of the aforementioned experiences has their benefits and drawbacks. There is no universal recipe, except the one that you need to educate yourself, be consistent, work hard, not give up on ideas, but also to be realistic. The older we are, the less we are prone to changes, while they are necessary for growth. My main motivator is the acknowledgement that I can always do better. I am satisfied when I witness progress in any form.