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BIRN SaM
Podgorica, February 24-28 2006
28 02 2006 Nine Montenegrin journalists from a number of media outlets around the country took part in a primary level journalism course organised by BIRN SaM at the PR Centre in Podgorica between February 24-28.
Nine Montenegrin journalists from a number of media outlets around the
country took part in a primary level journalism course organised by BIRN
Serbia and Montenegro at the PR Centre in Podgorica between February 24-28.
The course, the first step in the establishment of a network of BIRN
journalists in Montenegro, was launched at a press conference attended
by
several TV and radio stations, along with Dragana Nikolic Solomon, BIRN
Serbia and Montenegro director, Gordana Igric, BIRN development director,
Dragana Obradovic Zarkovic, BIRN project co-ordinator, Marcus Tanner,
BIRN
Balkan editor and trainer, and BIRN guest Tim Judah.
The participants were: Petar Komnenic, Monitor magazine; Nedjeljko Rudovic,
Vijesti; Sead Sadikovic, freelance journalist; Tufik Softic, editor of
Radio
Berane; Zeljko Madzgalj, editor of Polje; Samir Adrovic, bureau chief
of
Vijesti in Ulcinj; Izedina Adzovic, Radio Tuzi; Nikola Doncic, Monitor
correspondent in Kotor; and Marijana Camovic, correspondent of Vijesti
in
Tuzi. Bojana Stanisic of Dan was unable to attend, but is to take part
in
future training programmes.
Judah opened the course with a lecture on reporting from war zones as
a
freelance journalist. He spoke of his own such experiences in the Balkans,
Iraq and Uganda, giving practical tips on how to cover conflicts.
Nikolic-Solomon followed with a short introduction to BIRN and its editing
and commissioning processes. She explained why it is essential for BIRN
to
adhere to international journalistic standards and why they are helpful,
especially for Balkan journalists.
Igric spoke about international libel laws, which all local journalists
need
to be acquainted with if they hope to published in international and local
editions of BIRN.
She also instructed course participants on how to write news analysis,
emphasising the need to ensure balance and make clear distinctions between
fact and opinion.
Tanner concentrated on feature writing, focusing on article structure
and
commonly-made mistakes. He also provided examples of striking feature
writing.
Gertraud Illermeir, Belgrade correspondent of Die Presse, gave valuable
insights into the role of the foreign correspondent.
Following the theoretical part of the course, Tanner, Nikolic-Solomon
and
Igric took part in one-to-one training and commissioned stories from
participants, which will feature in a special Montenegro package due to
be
published by BIRN at the end of March.
The second part of the course is scheduled to take place in Budva, following
the vote on Montenegrin independence slated for May 21.
Petar Komnenic,who attended the course, said, "I liked the course
because it
was informative and practical. I was especially impressed by Tim Judah's
lecture. I hope that I will be able to cooperate with BIRN in the future."
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.
