Author: birnEU

Life in Kosovo interviews US ambassador Christopher Dell

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo broadcasts an exclusive interview with the American ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell, on the achievements of, and challenges to, Kosovo since its declaration of independence.

BIRN will also broadcast an exclusive interview with the head of the Kosovo Anticorruption Agency, Hasan Preteni, on fighting corruption

and the corruption cases which have not been processed since independence.

In the Justice in Kosovo section, BIRN researcher Petrit Kryeziu speaks about the judge who stepped down after being appointed to the Supreme Court of Kosovo.

In the Week’s Highlight report, Petrit Çollaku looks at the recent successes of Kosovo Police.

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20.

First fellowship alumni meeting to be held in 2010

On the occasion of the annual meeting held on Monday, February 8th, in Vienna, future development of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence was agreed between three partners

It was decided that as of this year, the fellowship book will not be published, but the emphasis will be on strengthening the web site, its promotion and additional features, as well as on the republishing of fellows’ articles published as a result of the programme. The quality of articles published in the 2009 publication “Identity: The Search for Belonging in a Changing Europe” was especially recognized on the regional media market, republished by some of the most prominent media, representing a trend we would like to follow in the years to come.

In addition, initial steps for the first fellowship alumni meeting were agreed. This meeting of all participants in the programme since its establishment, followed by the realization of their alumni journalistic projects, should take place in 2010 in one of countries covered by the scope of the programme.

This meeting was also the opportunity to make an overview of achievements of the Balkan Fellowship For Journalistic Excellence during the previous three years of its existence. Its continuous progress is confirmed by the external evaluation conducted by the media expert Wolfgang Wähner-Schmidt.

The evaluation showed that the number of applications has more than doubled since its establishment in 2007, and that the professional qualification of fellows has improved substantially over the years.

Feedback from many fellows suggests that the fellowship has helped them to advance their professional careers. Several fellows even said their promotion was a direct result of the fellowship programme, which is a tremendous success. Overall, the programme produced an impressive collection of well-researched and well-written stories, relevant both to the Southeast European region and EU-Europe. The 30 stories produced from 2007 to 2009 were published almost 1000 times in total, including national, regional and international print and online media.

This success of the programme has placed high expectations on the new intake of fellows, which is expected to be announced in March 2010. The call for applications is now open to all interested journalists from the Balkans.

Job Vacancy: International Programme Development Coordinator

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is looking for a Development Coordinator to manage our relationships with our stakeholders in NGOs, governments, foundations and other grant giving bodies.

Basic Function of Position:

The Development Coordinator is responsible for the management of ongoing grants and programmes of the region-wide BIRN organisation, preparing grant proposals and reports and liaising with donors and stakeholders. They will be actively involved in seeking out new funding opportunities for BIRN’s extensive programme of donor funded activities. For more information on BIRN please visit www.birn.eu.com and www.balkaninsight.com before applying.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • High level of proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
  • Experience of project management in the NGO and not-for-profit sectors.
  • Experience of managing grants for international donors, narrative and financial reporting.
  • Experience developing programmes and concepts for international charitable donors and funding bodies.
  • Experience developing programmes and concepts for trans-national organisations such as the UN, EU, and national governments’ aid or foreign policy ministries.
  • The ability to work within a multi-cultural team.

Interested candidates should submit their c.v. in English to: [email protected] by 19:00 on February   22nd  2010.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

BIRN is an equal opportunities employer.

BIRN network publishes a `Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans`

At the beginning of 2010 BIRN network published Digging Deeper – A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans, written in cooperation with Sheila Coronel, Director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and professor of professional practice at Columbia University, New York.

The idea for this handbook came from a desire to put on paper the valuable experience of BIRN, a regional network of journalists and trainers, and other colleagues from the region in their pursuit of investigative stories.

Digging Deeper showcases interesting investigative stories and individual journalistic successes and provides an overview of investigative techniques, the various databases available in the region and tips for the practitioners. It takes readers through this demanding discipline methodically, from a definition of what investigative journalism is and what is not, through the investigative process itself and the set of techniques for following people and paper trails, interviewing and checking the legal implications of journalistic work, and putting the article together.

Gordana Igric, BIRN regional director and editor of the handbook says – “To serve the public interest, an investigative journalist must also serve their own – by building their skills and knowledge, expanding their list of sources and enriching their reporting styles and techniques.”

BIRN is preparing translations of the handbook into Serbian, and translation into Albanian will follow shortly thereafter. The book will be distributed widely throughout the region, and will serve as a key tool for BIRN’s development of an investigative journalism summer school curriculum.

Production and publishing of ‘Digging Deeper – A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans’ was financially supported by the Open Society Institute and the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

Life in Kosovo investigates insurance companies in Kosovo

This Thursday’s Life in Kosovo show includes a field research report on how insurance companies operate.

How are these companies regulated in Kosovo? Is there a law on insurance? Do companies meet their obligations towards injured parties? What do the representatives of these companies and the affected parties have to say?

The report is prepared by BIRN journalist Jeta Abazi, who looks at these

and other matters concerning the insurance business.

In the Justice in Kosovo section, BIRN researcher Argzon Muçaj reveals a

report on the safety of judges and prosecutors in Kosovo courts.

The Week’s Highlight report from BIRN journalist Edona Musa features

Armend Agolli, the only neurosurgeon in Kosovo, who left Sweden to work

in Kosovo.

The satirical section Lamjet will close the show, reflecting on the events that

marked the week.

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday,

starting at 20:20.

Decentralisation of Serbia Conference

Organised by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Centre for Regionalism, a two-day conference was held on the subject of “Decentralisation of Serbia  – situation, requirements and obstacles”. The conference was held in the Great Hall of the Novi Sad City Assembly, on February 25 and 26, 2010.

The conference was held in the Great Hall of the Novi Sad City Assembly, on February 25 and 26, 2010. The topics covered by the conference were: Regional policy of the European Union, Usage of pre-accession funds, Vojvodina’s experiences so-far in using pre-accession funds , Statistical and functional decentralisation of Serbia

Through reviewing of the current situation in Serbia and the need for its decentralisation, the conference noted resistance and obstacles emerging on that path. The discussion that ensued after introductory speeches by panellists helped a good deal in eliminating dilemmas existing in the public about the process of decentralisation itself. The gathering emphasised correlation between the process of decentralisation and possibility of using European funds, especially those intended for equal regional development and cross-border cooperation.

Opening the conference, state secretary for regional development Dejan Jovanovic emphasised the significance of Serbia’s decentralisation and explained that the basic purpose of that process is investment into poorly developed regions of Serbia. After that, opinions of other panellists ensued. Head of the political department of the British embassy Cathy Cottrell said that: “Regionalisation is groundwork of the European integration processes.”

At the opening, other speakers were Aleksandar Jovanovic – speaker of the Novi Sad City Assembly, Gordana Igric, director of BIRN, and Aleksandar Popov, director of the Centre for Regionalism, who pointed out the fact that only a fifth of Serbia’s citizens believes that decentralisation is necessary, assessing that it is the consequence of wrong perception by citizens that decentralisation leads to separatism.

About the current processes of decentralisation, which are always a hot issue in countries of the European Union, spoke Dr Franz Schausberger, president of the Board of Directors of the Institute of the Regions of Europe, Salzburg/Austria, and Antonella Valmorbida, director of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA Italia and other speakers.

The conference gathered around 130 participants from Serbia, Austria, Italy. Participants of the conference were representatives of local self-governments: Nis, Kragujevac, Prijepolje, Bor, Medvedja, Presevo, Novi Sad, Kovin and others.

The conference’s realisation was supported by the British Embassy in the Republic of Serbia.

Apply for the 2010 Programme

The Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE Foundation, in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, announce the launch of the fourth year of their prestigious fellowship programme for journalists in the Balkans.

Journalists from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania or Serbia, are encouraged to submit research proposals on 2010’s theme -TABOO.

Each year ten journalists are chosen, through an open competition, to receive funding and professional support to research and report on a topic of regional and European importance.

Participating fellows will receive:

• A bursary of €2,000, a travel allowance of up to €2,000 and a chance to participate in a seven-month programme of professional development.

• The opportunity to travel across the region to produce an in depth report with a regional and European dimension.

• Training from internationally recognised journalists and experts.

• The opportunity to have their work published Europe-wide and to become a member of a growing network for journalistic excellence in the Balkans.

In addition, the independent Selection Committee will award bursaries of € 4,000, € 3,000 and € 1,000 for further professional development to the authors of the three winning articles.

For detailed information on eligibility for the fellowship programme, application and the selection procedure, please read the full Guidelines before you download Application Form.

Applications must be received no later than 01 March 2010.

TV Justice Starts Airing

Based on the success of our Justice Report and Justice Radio, BIRN BIH has created a regular monthly televised magazine about the country’s fight against the impunity.

Justice TV – a 30-minute programme is produced by BIRN’s journalists and FLASH production team on monthly basis throughout the year and offered to TV stations across the country and neighboring countries for airing. The programme is heavily concentrated on war crimes trials before the Court of BiH.

 

Justice TV will be produced once a month and in the same month distributed to interested TV stations in the country and the region. BIRN has already negotiated with State Television-BHT to broadcast the magazine in their prime timing on every first Monday in a month at 19:30. More than 15 independent TV stations with thier local and satellite channels already started broadcasting the programme as well.

 

The programmes will also be available on internet through uploads on website of BIRN : www.bim.ba , thus ensuring the programmes are reachable for the country’s citizens in the diaspora. An English language subtitled version of each programme would also be uploaded on the internet for the many international actors interested in the work of the Court of BiH.

 

Our aim is to ensure justice is accessible to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the diaspora as well as interested international actors through a unique production of monthly informative programme dedicated to the rule of law, truth and justice. The team’s overall goal is to increase understanding of and support for the work of the local judicial institutions dealing with war crimes, to ensure a transparent and accessible justice system and thereby contribute to the establishment of truth and reconciliation in the region.

 

TV Justice programme has been generously supported by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – FCO, through the UK Embassy in Sarajevo, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and NED.

 

You can receive additional information on the TV JUstice magazine through the following email address: [email protected]

 

 

The First Meeting under BICCED Held in Sarajevo

As part of the project recently awarded to BIRN  by the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans, Balkan’s Initiative for Cultural Cooperation, Exchange and Development (BICCED), BIRN brought together some of the most active players the cultural scene in Sarajevo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Danis Tanovic, the movie director, Amra Kresevljakovic from Deblokada, Nihad Kresevljakovic from the festival MESS, Elma Tatarevic from the Sarajevo Film Festival and Amila Ramic from the ARS AEVI shared their views and knowledge of the cultural scene in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the problems facing the creative industries.

As much as other spheres of life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the culture is also suffering from the consequences of the division of Bosnia & Herzegovina into largely separate entities. There is no ministry of culture at the state level, and this affects many institutions which are of national importance. The main areas of concern identified by the participants are related to the lack of of a national cultural policy, lack of clear criteria for the allocation of funds, politically-driven support both for organisations and for appointments to leading positions, along with a range of administrative obstacles, VAT policies, ATA Carnet, tax exemption, etc.

The participants gave a valuable input to the creation of an editorial strategy for the programme and provided their views on how the leading players might work together.

Similar meetings will be held in Republika Srpska, and in other countries participating in the project – Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia – to arrive at a cohesive and inclusive approach to cultural poly across the wider region

BIRN Receives a 3-year Grant from the SCP

The Balkan Investigative Regional Reporting Network, BIRN, is delighted to announce the signing of a three-year contract with the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans, SCP.

“Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans” sub=”Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans” >The project, “Balkan’s Initiative for Cultural Cooperation, Exchange and Development,” BICCED, aims to build a platform for development of culture-related co-operation in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia, focusing on common cultural policy issues and contributing to the change and development of individual country policies. BIRN, as lead partner in this project, will work closely with SEECult, from Serbia, and BIRN’s country-based organisations in Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.
 
The first phase of the project will involve the preparation of an editorial strategy and the establishment of links with cultural organisations and experts from across the region.

Later, a small group of influential representatives of the creative industries from all of the participating countries will get together for a regional conference to discuss the challenges faced and to agree a common approach.

Alongside, BIRN will organise the first of three annual training programmes in analytical and investigative reporting for 10 journalists, two from each of the participating countries. Journalists, who have an interest and focus on arts and cultural policy are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity which, in addition to the training, will offer them the   opportunity to participate in study visits around the region. Each group will visit one country attending a selection of cultural events, and meeting decision makers in institutions and organisations. Applications will be opened for interested journalists in February. After the initial training, the selected journalists will receive on-the-job training for a further 10 months. For each of the three years of the programme, 10 new journalists will be selected.

During the on-the-job training phase, each month, the journalists will participate in the production of 12 texts which will be published on a dedicated culture section of BIRN’s Balkan Insight web site www.balkaninsight.com and the six best texts will be put together to produce a monthly newsletter. The web section will also include a cultural calendar for the region and links to other resources in the cultural and arts field.