People

Adelina began her career as an intern at KALLXO.com at the end of 2015 and within a few months was promoted to the position of a journalist.

Based in Sarajevo, Admir joined BIRN in March 2021 and is managing BIRN BiH’s official social media platforms, including Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, and more.

Aida joined BIRN Hub in January 2020.

Aida joined BIRN BiH Detektor.ba team in April 2021. She is based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Albulena Sadiku has a strong professional background in civil society and has spent 15 years working in media management, anti-corruption projects, capacity building, local government and production of field TV debates and reports.

Albulena studied Business Administration and is a member of the Institute of Accounting, Finance and Auditing.

Aleksandar Djordjevic has worked as a journalist since 2009, mainly covering politics and public finance.

Aleksandra Bogdani is an investigative journalist for BIRN Albania.

Based in Belgrade, Alexis is responsible for the oversight the network’s social media accounts and assists in video production.

Alma Koci joined BIRN’s Balkan Transitional Justice team as a translator in December 2014.

Amire Qamili writes news and investigations for Kallxo.com and Gazeta Jeta ne Kosove.

Ana joined BIRN Serbia in 2017.

Ana Petruseva is an experienced journalist and one of the founders of the BIRN regional network and BIRN Macedonia.

Ardita joined the BIRN team in October 2019.

Having fostered a passion for Information Technology since the age of nine, Arian Hyseni is accustomed to putting to use the latest innovations in the field.

Arita completed her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Management with a sub-branch in International Relations at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT Kosovo).

Arjana Berisha is a student in the last year of her Bachelor of Journalism studies at the University of Prishtina.

Arta Sopi became part of the KALLXO.com team in November 2018. Before she joined BIRN, Arta worked at the newspaper Zeri, and prior to that she undertook an internship at the newspaper Koha Ditore.

Azra is a financial assistant in BIRN’s Hub office Sarajevo.

Detektor Journalist/Court MonitorAzra Husaric joined BIRN BiH team in October 2019 as a journalist and works as a court reporter.

Behar Mustafa is a court monitor and researcher working in the Mitrovica region and contributes as a journalist to the TV programme Justice in Kosovo.

Besar has extensive experience in journalism, having worked in print, television and electronic media in both the US and Albania since 2003.

Blendi is currently a student at the Computer Science branch of Iliria College.

Based in Warsaw, Claudia is reporting on political and social developments in Poland. Originally from Romania, she’s been based in Warsaw since 2012.

Denis Dzidic is the Executive Director and Editor for BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina. He joined BIRN in August 2008, and after working as a journalist, deputy editor and chief editor for BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina’s flagship website Detektor.ba he has been named Executive Director as of October 1, 2019.

Deniz is a cameraman and video editor for Kallxo.com and the BIRN TV programmes Life in Kosovo and Justice in Kosovo.

Diellza is currently a third-year student at the Rochester Institute of Technology Kosovo (RIT Kosovo) and studies Economics, Statistics and Management.

Donika Elshani joined BIRN Kosovo in September 2021 as a project coordinator. She is responsible for maintaining donor relations, drafting project proposals, producing narrative reports, and coordinating project activities, among other things.

Dorentina is a journalist who joined KALLXO.com initially as an intern at the end of 2016.

Under Dragana’s leadership, BIRN Serbia has been recognised for its professionalism and its ability to influence the public agenda in the fields of media development and good governance.

Drenushe has been a journalist at the BIRN Kosovo since July 2018.

Dunja joined BIRN Hub in September 2018. Based in Sarajevo, she works as an Administrative and Finance Assistant.

Durim Shala is a Camera Operator and Video Editor for Life in Kosovo and Justice in Kosovo.

Dusica Stilic, based in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is an experienced manager and trainer with knowledge and skills in business management, project cycle, human resources and public relations. She is one of the first regional employees of BIRN, joining the Network in 2006.

Dusica has been the Montenegrin correspondent based in Podgorica for BIRN’s regional publication Balkan Insight since 2013 and has been Balkan Insight Managing Editor since September 2018.

Dzana Brkanic, who joined the BIRN team in May 2013, has been working as a journalist since 2005 after beginning her career as a reporter for Radio Free Europe. Since December 2019 Brkanic acts as a Deputy Editor in BIRN BiH.

Based in Budapest, Edit is reporting about Hungary for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

Since 2001 working as journalist and correspondent in many newspapers and media in Albania and from September 2018 started working for BIRN Albania covering mostly the justice reform and organised crime issues.

Edward Szekeres is a Reporting Democracy correspondent reporting from Bratislava, Slovakia, with an occasional scoop in Budapest, Hungary.

Egzon finished primary and secondary school in his hometown, Gjakova before beginning Journalism Studies at AAB College.

Ejup Gojnovci started his career as a journalist in 2001 and has worked at several media outlets in Kosovo and collaborated with international media.

Elma Selimovic joined BIRN BiH Detektor team in April 2013. She has worked as a journalist since 2006.

Emina joined BIRN BiH’s Detektor team in March 2014.

Emirjeta Vllahiu joined the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in July 2018. She was initially engaged as an intern and currently is a junior journalist at KALLXO.com.

Erolinda started her career as a junior monitor at BIRN in July 2019.

Etlira Gjikopulli has been working as a Financial and Administrative Assistant for BIRN Albania since May 2014.

Fitim has been working with BIRN as a junior court monitor since September 2019.

Gabrijela Vukicevic joined BIRN Serbia as finance officer in October 2016.

Gjergj Erebara is journalist for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, in Albania.

Goce Trpkovski has been working as a journalist since 2004.

Founder of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Regional Network Director until May 2018.

Haris has worked with BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina since September 2016.

Based in Sarajevo’s BIRN Hub office, Hatidza manages media projects and oversees implementation activities, as well as the process of developing rulebooks, guidelines and modification of existing provisions. She also acts as a liaison for the Network in terms of capacity building.

Hysen has been taking care of the stage, lighting, and maintenance in BIRN Kosovo since 2011.

Ilirjana joined KALLXO.com initially as an intern in July of 2021 and is now working as a Junior Investigative Journalist.

Irvin joined Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Bosnia, BIRN BiH, in December 2020.

Isa Vatovci has been part of the Kallxo.com team since September 2018.

Ivan Angelovski is an investigative reporter and editor working on long term international projects with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

Based in Sarajevo, Ivana assists with implementation of BIRN Hub’s programmes and provides day-to-day management of the monitoring and evaluation activities related to them, including working with programme staff, external consultants, implementing partners and key stakeholders.

Based in Belgrade, Ivana is an editor at Balkan Insight in charge of coordinating and working on investigative stories.

Ivana joined BIRN in 2020. Based in Belgrade, she is responsible for managing and coordinating all activities within the BIRN Investigative Reporting Initiative programme, including BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting.

Jasna has worked at BIRN Macedonia since January 2016.

Jelena Veljkovic has worked as a journalist since 1992, mostly covering topics of politics, public finance, corruption and war crimes.

Jeta Xharra is a renowned journalist in Kosovo and Balkans, hosting the award-winning current-affairs TV programme, Life in Kosovo.

With international experience in media production, Jeton Ispahiu joined BIRN in 2008. He is responsible for providing video editing and final touches for the Life in Kosovo and Justice in Kosovo television programmes.

She is working as a freelance graphic designer since 2010 and from November 2015 working for BIRN Albania.

Kalina Simic joined BIRN Serbia in August 2012 as a project manager.

Kastriot studied at the University of Pristina, at the Faculty of Law and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Katarina joined the BIRN BiH team in October 2014.

Kristina Voko is the executive director of BIRN Albania and coordinates the network’s activities, fundraising and projects in the office in Tirana.

Labinot has monitored court sessions for BIRN Kosovo for almost two years.

Lada Vucenovic joined the BIRN Serbia team in January 2010.

Lamija Grebo joined BIRN BiH in January 2014 as a web archive assistant and intern. As of January 2015 she is working as a journalist for Detektor.

Based in Chisinau, Madalin Necsutu has been Balkan Insight’s correspondent from Moldova since 2017.

Maida joined BIRN Hub in January 2008 as a Financial Officer based in Sarajevo. Maida is responsible for cash flow management, monitoring daily financial operations, reviewing financial data and preparing monthly and annual reports as well as accountancy and auditing and overall communication with other departments and the staff of BIRN.

Marcus Tanner is Editor at Balkan Insight

Marian Chiriac has worked as a journalist since 1990, mainly covering politics and human rights issues.

Marija is a sales professional with a background in the media industry in Serbia and East Asia.

Marija Ristic is the executive director of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, a network of seven non-governmental organisations promoting freedom of speech, human rights and democratic values in Southeast and Central Europe. Ristic oversees the activities and communications within the Network and represents it publicly.

Matt Robinson is a journalist, translator and former Reuters Bureau Chief for the Balkans and Special Correspondent for Central and Eastern Europe.

As a researcher, Matteo works in BIRN’s Digital Rights Programme, focusing on tech implications for human rights and privacy in the Southeast and Central Europe region.

Matthew Collin is a journalist, broadcaster and author who has worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC, Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse.

Mediana is in the last year of her bachelor’s studies at the Department of Journalism at the University of Pristina. She joined the BIRN team in September 2019.

Based in Belgrade, Milica works on stories related to transitional justice in Serbia.

Milorad is an editor at BIRN Serbia in Belgrade. He is also coordinator and trainer on the project “Technical Assistance to Public Service Media in the Western Balkans.”

She graduated from the Faculty of Economy in the Banking, Finance and Accounting department at the University of Pristina, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree.

Based in Belgrade, Minja manages the output of BIRN’s social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other relevant platforms.

Mirza joined BIRN BiH in March 2021. He has been a cameraman for 15 years in TV companies in Bosnia.

Naser joined BIRN in January 2016, after 16 years of experience as a journalist, translator, and editor at the daily newspaper Zeri.

During her journalism studies, Natatalija joined BIRN in 2015 as an intern working on media privatisation and public tenders for media. She graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade in 2016.

Nejra is a BIRN BiH journalist based in Sarajevo. Aside from journalistic reporting, she is in charge of running a database connected to public procurement procedures.

Based in Sarajevo, Nejra is working closely with project coordinator teams, carrying out and assisting in the implementation of programmes across all of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network’s platforms.

Nermina joined BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina in August 2019.

Nicholas was appointed editor of Reporting Democracy in 2020.

Nikola joined BIRN Hub in May 2015 as an Administration and Operations Assistant.

Nuhi Shala joined BIRN in 2019 after 18 years of experience as an interpreter, administrative assistant and registrar with international missions in Kosovo.

Per Byman, is a Swedish aid worker and linguist.

Perparim Isufi joined BIRN Kosovo in May 2014 and currently serves as the managing editor of KALLXO.com.

Based in Belgrade and working as the Regional Development Officer, Petar Subotin supports cross-regional projects implementation and serves as a worldwide liaison with key stakeholders, including private donors and governments.

Ramize has eight years of administrative assistance within BIRN Kosovo, helping the organisation smoothly carrying its daily activities.

Rinesa Osmanaj joined the KALLXO.com team in July 2021. Starting out as an intern journalist, Rinesa is now working as a junior investigative journalist for the platform.

Robert Bierman serves as Chief Revenue Officer of News Deeply, Inc. News Deeply convenes stakeholders in global issues via single-subject digital news sites, events, research and membership groups.

Rrahman Ramaj is a financial analyst for BIRN Kosovo.

Sasa joined BIRN in 2020 as a correspondent for Balkan Insight. Previously, he has worked for Balkan Insight from 2015 to 2016.

Seid joined BIRN in November 2019 after 11 years of working experience in the business sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Semir Mujkic is managing editor for BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina. He joined BIRN in April 2017 and has worked as a journalist and deputy editor for BIRN BiH website Detektor.ba where he is managing editor as of October 2019.

Serbeze Haxhiaj is covering issues related to establishing justice and
facilitating reconciliation after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war. Her
particular focus is on war crimes, human rights issues, rehabilitation of
victims and peace approaches in dealing with conflict and its aftermath.

Shkelqim graduated from the University of Pristina in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2017.

On her path to becoming a journalist, Shkodranja took on an internship at KALLXO.com in July 2021, and has since been promoted to a Junior Investigative Journalist role.

Sinisa-Jakov Marusic is a Skopje-based journalist and regular contributor to BIRN’s regional publication, Balkan Insight, and the programme Balkan Transitional Justice.

She joined the BIRN team in 2014 and is responsible for both finance and administration jobs, producing finance reports, processing invoices and daily track of daily revenue and spending.

Sofija is a project manager at BIRN Hub in Belgrade. She is responsible for planning, developing and implementing BIRN’s human rights reporting and monitoring projects. She is managing Regional Digital Rights Monitoring within BIRN’s Investigative Resource Desk – BIRD, while she also assists on the Reporting Democracy project.

Steve Crawshaw is the director of the office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Tamara Chausidis is experienced editor and media freedom activist.

Tanja Maksic has been a member of the BIRN Serbia team since 2010. She develops and manages projects in the field of media policy and good governance.

Tim Judah is a front line reporter for The Economist and an author.

Urim became part of the BIRN Kosovo team in 2020, and with his extensive experience in the field of photography will help refresh BIRN’s visual library.

Vasko Magleshov is а journalist, anchor and TV host for more than 10 years.

Over the course of her journalism career, Vesna has worked with Politika, 4 Jul, YU Panorama, Revijalna Stampa, many local Serbian newspapers, and Croatian weekly Danas.

Visar started his career as a journalist at the “Kosova Sot” newspaper in 2007.

Vladimir has been an editor at the BIRN Albania (Court and Crime
Reporting) since June 2017.

Vlado has been covering topics related to organised crime, corruption and human rights for the last five years and at the beginnings of his journalism career he was working as a reporter in the economic newsrooms in several media.

Vyrtyte graduated from the University of Prishtina with a Bachelor’s degree in Law, maintaining a high level of academic achievement throughout her studies.

Xheneta Murtezaj has been engaged as a journalist at KALLXO.com since July 2018, initially as an intern, and within a few months was promoted to the position of Junior Journalist.

Xhorxhina Bami reports on daily developments in Kosovo and also writes feature, analyses, reviews, interviews, and investigations. Originally from Albania, Xhorxhina been living in Kosovo since 2015.

Yllka has been the Finance and Human Resources Manager at BIRN Kosovo since February 2019.

Zgjim Sefa studied Law at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” and has been engaged as a journalist at Kallxo.com since July 2021.