For many sociology graduates, a professional career does not necessarily lead to academic institutions, but instead continues in fields where society is observed, interpreted, and documented on a daily basis. Journalism is one such field—a space in which sociological knowledge, research skills, and an analytical perspective can be put to full use. This combination is clearly reflected in the professional work of Nina Šantek, a journalist at the Bauštela.hr news portal, whose journalism remains firmly rooted in a sociological understanding of social processes.

While her interest in sociology has never diminished, Nina Šantek’s daily work as a journalist has kept her particularly closely connected to the practice of qualitative methodology. In the numerous enquiries and questions she addresses to interviewees every day, she applies skills acquired in courses where she designed surveys and interviews as part of student sociological research projects.

Even to those who may not immediately see the connection, it soon becomes clear that journalism is closely intertwined with society as a whole: it follows change and records data and information about almost every major or minor social phenomenon—in real time.

Although she enjoys her work (most of the time), Nina’s interest in sociological topics remains very much alive. For her own enjoyment and personal development, as well as to maintain her curiosity about all things human, she has continued reading authors she first encountered in her Sociological Theory courses. Over time, she has broadened her reading and discovered new authors who have inspired her to reflect on different aspects of society.

Her passion for urban sociology has not diminished either. In fact, it made writing her Master’s thesis, An Analysis of the Urban-Sociological Development of Zagreb’s Trnje District (2023), feel more like a reward than simply another academic requirement to complete. After defending her thesis, Nina Šantek had the opportunity to continue working in a similar direction. Alongside her work for an online news portal, she began conducting her own research on places of comfort and discomfort in Zagreb, under the supervision of her former Master’s thesis supervisor, Assistant Professor Ivan Perkov.

The research was inspired by two earlier studies conducted by Zoran Stiperski in 1997 and 2005, which Nina had discussed in her thesis on Trnje. The aim of her latest study is to use survey data collected among Zagreb residents to determine whether attitudes have changed since the previous research or whether similar patterns persist in the feelings that particular streets, squares, parks, or entire neighbourhoods evoke among the city’s residents.

At the same time, she is already taking notes on new topics drawn from the seemingly inexhaustible range of urban phenomena and situations she encounters in everyday city life—while walking through Zagreb, travelling on public transport, and going about her daily routines. After all, sociology is everywhere around us.