Author: birnEU

BIRN Serbia trains NMC members

Communication Training for the members of National Minority Council of ethnic Albanians was held in Belgrade on the 25th and 26th of February.

BIRN and the OSCE mission to Serbia, brought together six representatives of different boards of the  NMC in order to strengthen their media communication skills with local and national media and to connect them with Belgrade based media.

On the first day of training, NMC representatives were introduced to the overall situation in the media industry in Serbia, noting the positions of local media – their weaknesses and their importance to local communities. 

The mandate of the NMC in the media sphere was also discussed. Dragana Nikolic-Solomon, head of media department of the OSCE mission gave a presentation.

“The NMC should not manage the editorial policies of any media, it should simply promote the most important things the ethnic group it represents and advocate for that” stressed Solomon.

<!** Image 3 align=”right” >Later, trainees were introduced to the results of a survey undertaken by BIRN Serbia on perception of the media in Bujanovac and Presevo.

The survey showed that the community viewed the local media as a tool of the ruling party and that they were not interested in watching such programming.

After two further  presentations and debate on the issues raised, a working dinner was held with journalists and editors from major Belgrade based media.

It proved to be a good platform for sharing information and establishing better communication with national media representatives.

Day two was organised as a workshop. Guided by two experienced RTS journalists and editors, Goran Sinandinovic and Bojan Brkic, NMC representatives were trained how to communicate in different situations.

They were recorded and their statements to camera were analysed. They had a chance to learn how to formulate statements, how to stand and how to deliver their messages in a positive manner.

“It was very useful training for us” said Baki Rehxepi, president of the media board of the NMC.

BIRN Holds Investigative Journalism Training

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is holding a two-day training event on investigative journalism for print and television reporters, as well as civil society organisations which work to promote access to official documents.

During the training, BIRN unveiled its manual to document-based investigative reporting, Follow the Paper Trail, which sets out how to use Kosovo’s freedom of information laws, practical tips on how to use search engines to trawl Kosovo government websites and internationally sources of information.

Training sessions offered practical investigative techniques used by BIRN journalists on writing a number of hard-hitting investigative stories, some of which have sparked probes by authorities into suspected corruption.

At the end of training, five print and there television journalists will be provided with funds to write an investigative story using these techniques, while being supervised by BIRN journalists to get first-hand experience on investigative journalism.  This project is funded by the United States of America Embassy in Pristina.

Download the manual of investigative journalism

Life in Kosovo debates the failure of the government to increase salaries

Tonight, Life in Kosovo discusses Kosovo’s government’s failure to increase the salaries of civil servants.

What happened to the promise of acting prime minister Hashim Thaci to increase salaries? How legitimate was the government’s decision to increase salaries? What could be the consequences of not introducing the pay rises? What do the IMF and international community in Kosovo say about this decision?

To discuss these and other issues related to the budget, the consequences of non-approval of the budget and salary increases without budget coverage, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu is joined by the following:

Haxhi Arifi – Head of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo
Haki Shatri – Former Minister of Economy
Lumir Abdixhiku – Executive Director of Riinvest
Arbana Xharra – Economics reporter at the daily newspaper Zëri

During the debate, Life in Kosovo broadcasts a report by journalist Edona Musa, which talks about the frustration of education and health workers, showing their disappointment about the fact that their salaries have not been increased, despite the promises of the government.

After the debate, Life in Kosovo broadcasts a report by journalist Alban Selimi, which shows how a road in the municipality of Obilic has been destroyed only four months after being paved.

At the end of the show, BIRN will broadcast a report on the debate tournament  Peja Open 2011, which was held last weekend by the students of high schools of four municipalities of Kosovo on the topic of elections.

 

 

Life in Kosovo Debates Taboo

Tonight, Life in Kosovo discusses taboo about remarriages of widows and marriages done in order to obtain residence permits in Western countries.

Why do husbands whose wives die marry again quickly, while society encourages women whose husbands die to wear black and not re-marry? How widespread is the phenomenon of marriages done in order to obtain residence permits? What do Kosovar imams say about this phenomenon? What are the different perceptions of marriages of widows of wars in Kosovo, Bosnia and the UK?

To discuss Kosovo’s society approach to this, Jeta Xharra has invited the following people:

Nita Luci, anthropologist
Sabri Bajgora, the main imam of Kosovo
Fahrije Hoti, from the Association of Widows “Krusha”
Majlinda Aliu, journalist and the winner of the first prize of Balkan Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism 2010, with her article on the re-marriage of widows.

Jeton Musliu, journalist and the winner of the third prize of Balkan Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism 2010, with his article on false marriages carried out in order to obtain a residence permits.

During the show, BIRN will broadcast the documentary about marriages of Albanians with Swiss and German women in order to obtain residence permissions, realised as part of the Balkan Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism for 2010.

The Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence was established in 2007 by the ERSTE Foundation and the Robert Bosch Stiftung in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, in order to promote excellence in journalism and balanced reporting on complex issues about the reforms that are important for the region and the European Union.

The topic of this year is Justice. For more information about the program and application procedures, please visit http://fellowship.birn.eu.com/.

 

 

Apply Now for 2011 Fellowship

Seize your chance to investigate stories about justice at home and abroad with funded research, travel expenses and career development seminars in Berlin and Vienna.

• About the fellowship

• Application form

• Application guidelines

Experienced journalists across the Balkans are invited to apply for the fifth annual Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme.

This year’s topic is justice. Applicants are encouraged to consider the theme in broad terms and submit original story proposals exploring issues surrounding the delivery of and access to justice – in both legal and social contexts.

Click here for more information on the 2011 fellowship topic

Journalists selected – by an independent committee – to take part in the fellowship will receive a €2,000 bursary, up to another €2,000 for travel expenses and will attend career development seminars in Berlin and Vienna.

Completed articles will be published in English and local languages in regional and European online and print media.

In addition, the top three articles, again judged by an independent committee, will attract awards of €4,000, €3,000 and €1,000.

Click here to find out more about how the fellowship works

Remzi Lani, director of the Albanian Media Institute and a member of the programme’s selection committee, described the fellowship as “a success story”.

“The programme offers a unique opportunity for detailed, in-depth reporting in your country and beyond. At the same time, if offers fellows the opportunity to meet colleagues and industry professionals from across Europe.

“Publication of the fellows’ articles in the most important media in the region and internationally is certainly clear proof that this project is a worthy venture – an opportunity that should not be missed,” he said.

The fellowship programme was established in order to develop and support Balkan journalists reporting on complex reform issues that have regional and EU significance.

To encourage regional networking among journalists and support balanced coverage of topics central to the Balkans and the EU, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE Foundation established the fellowship in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

Download an application form

Read the application guidelines

Justice: 2011 fellowship topic

The topic for this year’s programme is justice. Applicants are encouraged to consider the theme in broad terms and investigate issues surrounding access to and delivery of justice in both legal and social senses.

Applicants should explore issues surrounding justice in their country – in government, in business, within society, among interest groups, between individuals and within families – and draw parallels to the situation in neighbouring countries and the EU.

As Balkan states adjust to new economic and political realities, are all citizens equal before the law? Are all laws just? What of the impact on social justice issues such as access to education, equal opportunities and employment? Has the road to EU membership provided adequate protection for citizens at home and abroad?

With the establishment of international courts and tribunals, and the existence of myriad extradition agreements, jurisdictions now cross borders. While some may find it more difficult to dodge justice, do all criminals have fewer places to hide? Does the threat of international legal action deter the abuse of human rights by governments?

The transitional economies of the western Balkans have, in the main, developed systems, values and legal frameworks that are broadly in line with those in the EU. However, unequal access to justice, haphazard investigation, weak enforcement and corruption are everyday realities. The task for our 2011 fellows will be to pitch fresh story ideas which shed new light on regional and international justice.

Life in Kosovo debates the lack of heating

Tonight Life in Kosovo discusses the heating problem in Prishtina.

Who is to blame for the lack of heating? Which are the biggest institutional and commercial debtors of Termokos? Why did the municipality of Prishtina, as a shareholder of this company, not ensure that heat would be provided for everyone at the start of the winter season? Why does Termokos remain without a board of directors?

To discuss these and other issues related to the heating problem in the capital, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu has invited the following people:

Fëllanze Pula, Acting Deputy Chief Executive of Termokos
Bashkim Isufi, from the Ministry of Economy
Muhamet Gashi, Spokesman for the Municipality of Prishtina
Lavdim Hamidi, business reporter for the daily newspaper Zëri

After the debate, Life in Kosovo broadcasts an investigative report of journalist Petrit Çollaku, which shows
how the municipality of Prishtina paid 30 times too much for a fire engine.

Journalist Alban Selimi talks about the case of a patient who has sued the hospital in Peja.

At the end of the show, the Highlight of the Week comes from students of Sami Frashëri high school, who are playing music on Mother Teresa Square to raise money to pay for the the care of their sick friend.

 

 

Life in Kosovo interviews Draskovic and Naim

Tonight Life in Kosovo broadcasts an interview with Serbia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Draskovic; an interview with the head of Customs, Naim Huruglica, and a TV report on a burns unit.

Vuk Draskovic, the leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, speaks to Life in Kosovo about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, as well as his stance on the north of Kosovo and Kosovo Serbs.

The interview with the head of customs raises the issue of EULEX raids on this institution at the end of 2010 connected with claims of fraud involving tobacco imports in 2008.

After the interviews, Life in Kosovo broadcasts a report by BIRN journalist Alban Selimi, who looks at the importance of a centre that offers treatment for patients with burns and the reasons why there is a large number of these cases in Kosovo.

Debate on Albanian Language Media in South Serbia

Public forum entitled The Albanian Language Media: Opportunities for Improved Dialogue with Institutions, was held in hotel Rozafa in Bujanovac on December 23.

The aim of discussion was to initiate a constructive dialogue aimed at creating a favorable environment for the media scene in southern Serbia.

Vukasin Obradovic, President of the Independent Association of Journalists in Serbia, NUNS, has cited lack of professional standards, economic mismanagement and unstable political situation as main reasons why the media in southern Serbia are under-developed and on the verge of collapse, as he said.

As key  issues  the media  in southern Serbia are facing, Baki Rexhepi, President of the Media Committee of the National Council of Albanians, has cited the unequal position of broadcasters, the unfinished process of privatization, and lack of human resources.

Goran Karadzic, from the State Broadcasting Agency, RRA, has expressed his hope that media strategy which is supposed to be released soon will resolve the issue as key things the strategy will deal with are privatisation of all media in Serbia and the issue of media in minority languages.

According to him, the most common problems RRA faces in South Serbia is piracy and media content as media broadcast without the proper license or they are incorporating Albanian television programmes into their own programme.

Dragana Solomon, Head of Media Department of the OSCE mission in Serbia, has presented a survey from 2009 which says that over 600 editors and journalists in Serbia appealed to the political and commercial pressures while working.

“The main reason for such situation on the Serbian media scene is too many media and there is not enough financial support for quality and independent media coverage,” Solomon said.

Life in Kosovo debates of elections

Tonight in Life in Kosovo, representatives of political parties, the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the
NGO Democracy in Action will discuss how the election process was organised on December 12.

Questions to be considered include: Who is responsible for the organisation and running of elections? What kinds of responsibility do those staffing Kosovo’s 2280 polling stations have? Why was appropriate equipment not provided?

What kind of legitimacy will the institutions to be created after these elections have? What lessons can be learned? Will Kosovo have fresh elections next year?

In order to discuss these and other issues relating to the December 12 elections, Jeta Xharra will be joined in the studio by:

Jakup Krasniqi, acting President of Kosovo and PDK secretary;
Valdete Daka, Head of the CEC;
Driton Selmanaj, Democracy in Action;
Ismet Beqiri, LDK secretary;
Burim Ramadani, AAK secretary;
Glauk Konjufca, member of Vetevendosje.

In addition, an interview by Jeta Xharra will be broadcast, in which two leaders from the CEC, Valdete Daka and Xhemajl Pecani, claim that the responsibility for the irregularities and violations does not lie with the CEC alone.

During the show, BIRN will also broadcast a report from journalist Edona Musa, in which she shows how the government has spent money set aside for children with disabilities.

BIRN Wins Prizes For Corruption Journalism in Kosovo

BIRN investigative journalists, Alban Selimi, Lawrence Marzouk, and Petrit Collaku, awarded first prizes for anti-corruption in the category of television and print journalism.

In the best journalists’ awards for reporting on combating and preventing corruption in Kosovo, the Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo and Anti-Corruption Agency, gave first prizes to three BIRN reporters.

Alban Selimi won first prize for television investigative journalism with his investigative report into a lawyer and judge in Klina who forged documents to make an illegal profit of 16,800 euro. “This award has a special significance, since it is the official revelation of corruption as an enemy,” Selimi said.

“This is an appreciation of my work and the work of my BIRN colleagues who remain dedicated to the elimination of corruption and other negative phenomena in Kosovo,” he added.

Lawrence Marzouk and Petrit Collaku won first prize for written investigative journalism, with their investigative report published in Prishtina Insight, a publication of BIRN.

The winning report concerned misuse of government tenders for roads in Kosovo and allegations of corruption in the Kosovo’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.

“This took several months of work into documents and tenders about road building in Kosovo and our findings were really worrying,” Collaku said.
“This ministry was mostly investigated because it had the largest budget, from which lots of friends and relatives of the Minister of Transport, Fatmir Limaj, won tenders that cost several millions,” he added.

“The story has shown that the problem with tenders issued by the government continues to be a very serious one,” he continued.

This is the fourth year that BIRN has won major prizes for investigative journalism in Kosovo.

The winners said they hoped the prizes would encourage journalists to continue reporting cases of corruption, abuse of official positions, misuse of taxpayers’ money and provision of substandard public services for citizens of Kosovo.