Author: birnEU

Journalists from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia are encouraged to submit stories on any issue related to cultural policy and management published between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012. Applications must be received no later than September 30, 2012 through the online application form.

Newspaper, online, television or radio journalists from these countries are expected to submit one serious, investigative and analytical article together with their professional CVs and details of the article’s subsequent impact.

For detailed information on eligibility for the Culture Watch Award, application and the selection procedure, please read the full Guidelines before completing the Application Form, available here.

The total prize money is 3,700 Swiss Franks (CHF) less applicable taxes under the law in Bosnia and Herzegovina; this will be divided among the three winners as follows:

 

First prize: 2,000 CHF

 

Second prize: 1,200 CHF

 

Third prize: 500 CHF

 

The evaluation board may decide not to award a first prize and instead allocate more second or third prizes depending on the quality of submitted articles.

 

Over the three years of the BICCED project, more than 30 journalists from Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo have obtained new skills in reporting on policy and management in the area of culture in the region.

 

The Culture Watch Award is the next step in strengthening analytical and investigative approaches to reporting on cultural policy.

 

Applications will be evaluated by a jury comprised of six experts on cultural policy in the region and one internationally awarded journalist.

 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the second half of November 2012.

 

All interested candidates can apply through online application form, or ask additional question by sending an email to [email protected].

 

In the introductory session on April 26, the journalists discussed their ideas and the challenges they faced in their work. The afternoon was spent in a discussion about reporting techniques, conducted by Neil Arun, the fellowship’s international editor, and Gordana Igric, the editor-in-chief of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

 

The second day was taken up by a series of 90-minute meetings in which the reporters took turns to hone their story ideas with a team of editors from BIRN. Those who were not involved in the sessions spent the morning at the offices of Der Standard, receiving an insight into the editorial processes that shape the leading Austrian newspaper.

 

During the afternoon seminar, BIRN local editors revealed their techniques for avoiding the common pitfalls for investigative journalists in the region. Davor Konjikusic, a fellowship alumnus, also gave the reporters his tips for taking strong pictures to accompany their stories.

 

On the third and final day, further one-on-one editorial sessions were held for the reporters. The rest of the team spent the morning on the streets of Vienna, testing out some newly acquired photography skills.

 

In the afternoon, Romanian investigative journalist and fellowship alumnus Adrian Mogos spoke to the reporters about the risks of going undercover. Lawrence Marzouk, BIRN’s Kosovo editor, also shared his insights into gathering sensitive material from documents and public records.

 

At a concluding meeting that evening, the reporters discussed how they would tackle their stories in light of what they had learnt in Vienna.