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Vojvodina Minority Journalism Training Begins

Novi Sad, May 30- June 2, 2005

06 06 2005 The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, organized a four-day workshop in Novi Sad from May 30 to June 2, marking the start of a three-month advanced journalism course for journalists in Vojvodina.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, organized a four-day workshop in Novi Sad from May 30 to June 2, marking the start of a three-month advanced journalism course for journalists in Vojvodina.

Ten young professionals from different media outlets around Vojvodina participated in the course as a part of a three-year, Minority Training and Reporting BIRN project, financed by the British embassy in Belgrade.

Trainers from the United Kingdom and Romania led sessions in Novi Sad on feature writing, news analysis and diversity reporting. The course participants also got the chance to debate and share their experiences with other visiting speakers from Serbia and the United States.

The journalists taking part will produce a package of articles on Vojvodina, to be published in IWPR's Balkan Crisis Report. They will also start contributing to a newly established BIRN web page.

Tim Judah, a well-known British journalist with extensive experience of the Balkans and author of the books "The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia" and "Kosovo: War and Revenge," opened the course.

Gordana Igric, IWPR's Balkan Project Manager, based in London, held a practical session on the difference between news reporting and news analysis and on structuring articles in line with Anglo-Saxon journalistic standards.

Marian Chiriac, director of BIRN Romania, focused on ethnic diversity reporting and on the ethical code governing the reporting on ethnic issues, stirring up lively discussion.

Guest speakers were the award-winning journalists Danica Vucenic from RTV B92 and Randall Joyce, a longtime CBS TV producer from the United States.

Vucenic's film "Tapestry" was screened during the course. Last year in Motovun it won the Amnesty International Award for a film that promoted the protection of human rights.

Joyce, has worked in a variety of world conflict zones from Bosnia to, more recently, Iraq and Iran. His documentary, "Shame of Srebrenica", produced for CBS's "60 minutes" program won the prestigious American TV Emmy award and the Dupont award from Colombia University.

BIRN Serbia and Montenegro is a recently established local media development organization that the Institute for War and Peace Reporting has established as a network of NGOs in seven countries around the Balkans. Its primary aim is to strengthen investigative journalism in the region.

The BIRN Serbia training course will focus on the media outside Belgrade, organising training throughout the country, with a view to expanding a network of potential contributors. Training sessions will give participants a new platform from which to present their views to the mainstream media in Belgrade through the republication of their articles.