Author: birnEU

The course was divided into two sessions. The first was held by Kreshnik Gashi, anchor of the ‘Justice in Kosovo’ television programme, while the second was overseen by Labinot Leposhtica, the legal office coordinator at BIRN Kosovo.

Gashi described the evolution of the media from newspapers, radio and television to social media and provided participants with techniques to help stay safe on social media.

He also described the role of algorithms, and how people can easily become prey to fake news and disinformation as a result of the algorithms created by our social media accounts.

Gashi also stressed the importance of fact-checking, because provided that it is done correctly, it fulfills the true role of the media in serving the public interest.

Leposhtica explained Kosovo’s media code of ethics, legislation governing the media, and the meaning of freedom of speech on social media. He also outlined the importance of informing the reader promptly and correctly, following international media standards, and preventing incitement of discrimination and intolerance on social media.

According to Leposhtica, even though Kosovo’s constitution and international conventions ensure freedom of speech, this freedom has limitations, “especially in cases when the freedom of one person violates the freedom of somebody else”.

For Leposhtica, “these limitations are in place to prevent hate speech and calls for violence”.

The training session was organised as part of the ‘Consortium: For a Sustainable Community’ project, which is funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, GCERF.

In March, KALLXO.com’s team (BIRN Kosovo and Internews Kosova joint product) has been continuously reporting about the situation in Kosovo – from home, the office, as well as in the field.

The coronavirus has reshaped societies around the world, with people changing their lifestyles on a huge scale amid travel restrictions and instructions to work from home and avoid unnecessary social contacts. The coronavirus pandemic is deeply affecting the health systems, and the global economy, while policymakers around the world are initiating and imposing serious measures on citizens to stop the virus from spreading.

In that month, KALLXO.com’s team has produced more than 800 articles, including analysis, news, and live reporting – as well as 100 video reports and 30 infographics and illustrations on coronavirus and its rapid spread.

KALLXO.com has also published up-to-date information and expert advice on the latest situation regarding the coronavirus epidemic, as well as checking and reporting fake news stories that media outlets have produced.

When news of the coronavirus’ spread to Europe broke, KALLXO.com began its reporting by providing advice on how to protect oneself from the virus, as well as investigating the capacity of health institutions in Kosovo to cope with an epidemic.

At the end of February, KALLXO.com’s team of graphic designers and illustrators produced three educational infographics, one providing advice on how to protect oneself and others by washing hands regularly, one providing guidelines on how to protect oneself during trips and the other providing advice on how to protect others from becoming infected.

KALLXO.com also published more than 100 articles on the spread of the virus throughout the world and the risks posed.

By analysing the level of preparedness in Kosovo’s institutions, KALLXO was part of preparing the country to help the spread of the crisis.

During the past month, KALLXO.com reported on irregularities found during investigations in the field, including an article on police and border officials lacking protective equipment to help protect against the virus.

KALLXO.com also initiated an inspection of bathrooms at Kosovo’s health institutions, as well as at the University of Pristina, to check whether they possess basic sanitary supplies such as antibacterial soap and toilet paper.

Hospitals and Family Health Centers were inspected in Pristina, Gracanica, South and North Mitrovica, Gjakova, Prizren, Peja, Ferizaj and Gjilan, where soap and toilet paper were missing. Reporting on the lack of basic sanitary products in Kosovo’s health institutions helped raise the alarm over a wider lack of sanitary supplies in the health system.

KALLXO.com also received reports during the coronavirus crisis that the University Clinical Center of Kosovo does not possess a contract for supplies of sanitary equipment, and investigated, publishing the findings.

The introduction of preventive measures, including the suspension of schools, further alarmed Kosovo society to the severity of the situation and increased the need to provide reporting from the field.

The news of the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kosovo, in the municipalities of Klina and Viti, resulted in a shift of KALLXO.com’s reporting focus. As a widely used regional and municipal reporting platform, KALLXO.com has continuously received reports from both quarantined municipalities.

Two of KALLXO.com’s journalists who live in these municipalities have constantly provided the editorial team with the real-time pictures and videos of the situation in the municipalities, including the supply of citizens with food and medication.

In the first two days alone, KALLXO.com published more than 20 articles illustrating the situation, as well as broadcasting live video interviews with mayors and municipal health directors.

KALLXO.com teams have also broadcast every live press conference involving the Health Minister, as well as with municipal health directors, medical experts, and other significant policy-makers on the management of the situation.

With the spread of coronavirus in Kosovo, KALLXO.com built a live discussion platform broadcast through KALLXO’s social media accounts. It has streamed around 10 live interviews with doctors, epidemiologists, surgeons, and neuropsychiatrists to provide advice to people on how they should behave in a pandemic situation.

Ten live interviews with municipal mayors and municipal officers on managing the situation from the field were also broadcasted, while KALLXO.com has continuously reported on the lack of basic sanitary supplies when interviewing health directors in different municipalities in Kosovo.

During the epidemic, our investigative team specialising in public procurement looked into reports that the University Hospital and Clinical Service of Kosovo purchased oxygen at double the foreseen price.

When discussion arose on allocating municipal funds to clean and disinfect roads and other public spaces, KALLXO.com investigated and reported that municipalities lack the necessary funds and capacities to disinfect the roads.

Debunking fake-news

Several media outlets in Kosovo have used the coronavirus crisis to serve personal interests and financially profit from the situation.

However, KALLXO’s team of fact-checkers have monitored the work of other media outlets at all times, and have been highly engaged in identifying and reporting fake news circulated in the media and on social networks.

Some of the reports debunking fake-news include:
1) Media reported the first case of a patient infected with coronavirus, a claim denied by the Infectious Disease Clinic.
2) The media reported that helicopters will disinfect the air when no such thing has been reported or confirmed by the authorities.
3) Media reported that American troops have landed in Europe, when no such event has happened.
4) Media reported that coronavirus tests have been sent to Albania to be tested and confirmed, a statement that was immediately denied by the National Institute of Public Health.

Declaring a public health emergency

After the declaration of the crisis as a public health emergency, KALLXO.com’s legal office concluded that the government has not provided enough advice for citizens who violate the strict measures. Therefore, the night that the situation was declared a public health emergency, our legal office drafted three legal analyses illustrating the legal consequences for individuals who violate the measures.

Legal analyses

KALLXO.com’s legal office a analysed and investigated reports submitted by citizens regarding violations of labour regulations and price increases in shops. Within a week, the legal office was in communication and coordination with the Tax Administration of Kosovo and six actions were taken on businesses that raised prices.

The learning materials will soon be made accessible to students across the country, including those that do not have internet access.

The ministry said that it received significant support from many media and educational organisations that have provided infrastructural capacities and professional expertise to support the implementation of the initiative.

The ministry added that it is communicating with internet service providers so that families with children who do not have access to the internet can be provided with free online services to enable them to participate in distance learning.

The ministry also provided clarification regarding private schools, which are entitled to provide their own digital educational services, taking into account that teaching must be conducted in accordance with the state-approved curriculum.

Supported by the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Pristina, the training courses are intended to improve the performance of the Auditor General and National Audit Office staff in reporting and providing information on public spending.

During the training, the executive director of Internews Kosova and the producer and director of the ‘Life in Kosovo’ TV show, Faik Ispahiu, gave insights into how to organise a public presentation, including arranging the space, assigning tasks, preparing speeches, and creating a presentation plan.

The training was followed by a technical exercise showing how to use a prompter during public appearances.

BIRN Kosovo will provide the National Audit Office staff with one more training session, aimed at improving the performance of the Auditor General and National Audit Office staff during public appearances, as well as on social media.

The stories can be television reports or print or online publications.

The competition is part of the Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo. The author of the story awarded first place will receive 1,000 euros, with 800 euros for second place and 500 euros for third place.

A professional jury composed of editors, journalists and practitioners will evaluate the stories based on a series of criteria including the importance of each story and its impact on society.

The jury will also evaluate the comprehensiveness, required resources, and quality of research involved, and look at whether the stories addressed issues that have so far been overlooked in the areas of energy efficiency, environmental protection, climate change and environmental health impacts.

The jury will further examine the level of inclusion of marginalised communities and groups in stories, and ask if there was a thorough representation of current circumstances in Kosovo in relation to energy efficiency, environmental protection, climate change and environmental health impacts.

It will also take into account the quality of photographs and illustrations used in the case of online and newspaper stories, and the quality of images and creativity employed in the case of TV and web TV stories.

Eligible stories for the competition must have been published through media that are members of the Kosovo Press Council or the Independent Media Commission. Stories published by Kosovo media that are members of the Kosovo Press Council will be prioritised.

Applicants are encouraged to submit, together with their story, a brief description of the story and the impact that the story had upon publication.

The stories must have been published between February 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020.

Applications will be accepted until 23:59 on March 31, at the following via the email address [email protected].

Incomplete applications or applications sent after the deadline will not be considered.

All questions about the awards must be sent to the same email address by 23:59 on March 15.

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BIRN Kosovo raspisuje konkurs za najbolje tri priče u oblasti energetske efikasnosti, okoline i klimatiskih promena

Balkanska istraživačka mreža, BIRN Kosovo, u partnerstvu sa TV Mreža, ERA grupom i Bankwatch-om raspisuje konkurs za tri najbolje novinarske priče objavljene na televiziji, u štampi i na internetu na temu energetske efikasnosti, zaštite životne sredine, klimatskih promena i uticaja životne sredine na zdravlje ljudi.

Ova nagrada se dodeljuje u sklopu projekta „Evropeizacija Kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“, koji podržava Kancelarija Evropske unije na Kosovu.

Prva priča biće nagrađena sa 1,000 evra, druga priča sa 800 evra a treća sa 500 evra.

Stručni žiri sastavljen od urednika/novinara i stručnjaka iz ovih oblasti proceniće priče na osnovu:

• značaja priče i uticaja koji je ostvarila u društvu;
• kompleksnosti, potrebnih resursa i kvaliteta istraživanja;
• bavljenja do sada neobrađenim temama u oblasti energetske efikasnosti, zaštite životne sredine, klimatskih promena i uticaja životne sredine na zdravlje ljudi;
• uključivanja zajednica i marginalizovanih grupa u priču – ekološke pravde;
• dubokog oslikavanja aktuelnih okolnosti na Kosovu, u vezi sa oblastima energetske efikasnosti, zaštite životne sredine, klimatskih promena i uticaja životne sredine na zdravlje ljudi;
• kvalitet upotrebljenih fotografija i ilustracija takođe će se ocenjivati u pričama objavljenim na internetu i u novinama;
• u TV ili internet TV pričama takođe će se oceniti kvalitet slike i kreativnost u realizaciji priče.

Ko se može prijaviti?

Autori svih objevljenih priča u kososvkim medija, dok prednost imaju mediji koji su članovi Saveta štampe Kosova i Nezavisne komisije za medije.

Konkurenti se podstiču da uz priče dostave i kratak opis situacije pre njenog nastanka i uticaj koji je ista imala nakon objavljivanja.

Priče moraju da budu objavljene u intervalu od 1. februara 2019. do 29. februara 2020.

Sve prijave za Nagradu za energetiku i životnu sredinu na Kosovu, u okviru projekta „Evropeizacija Kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“, biće primljene do 31. 03. 2020, do 23:59 h, na e-mail adresi: [email protected].

* Nepotpune prijave ili prijave poslate nakon roka neće biti uzete u razmatranje.

Sva pitanja u vezi sa Nagradom za energetiku i životnu sredinu mogu se uputiti na gorenavedenu E-mail adresu do 15. 03. 2020. u 23:59 h.

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BIRN Kosova shpall garën për tri storiet më të mira në efiçiencë të energjisë, mjedis dhe ndryshime klimatike

Rrjeti Ballkanik i Gazetarisë Hulumtuese, BIRN Kosova, në partneritet me TV Mreža, ERA Group dhe Bankwatch shpall konkursin për tri storiet më të mira gazetareske të botuara në televizion, shtyp dhe online në temat e efiçiencës së energjisë, mbrotjes së mjedisit, ndryshimet klimatike dhe ndikimet e mjedisit në shëndetin e njeriut.

Çmimi ndahet në kuadër të projektit “Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda”, mbështetur nga Zyra e Bashkimit Europian në Kosovë.

Storia e parë do shpërblehet me 1,000 Euro, storia e dytë me 800 Euro dhe storia e tretë me 500 euro.

Një juri profesionale e përbërë nga redaktorë/gazetarë dhe profesionistë të fushës do t’i vlerësojë storiet duke u bazuar në:

• Rëndësinë e stories dhe ndikimin e saj në shoqëri;
• Gjithëpërfshirja, burimet e nevojshme dhe cilësia e hulumtimit;
• Adresimi i çështjeve të patrajtuara deri më tani në fushën e efiçiencës së energjisë, mbrojtjes së mjedisit, ndryshimet klimatike dhe ndikimet e mjedisit në shëndetin e njeriut;
• Gjithëpërfshirja e komuniteteve dhe grupeve të margjinalizuara në storie – drejtësinë mjedisore;
• Pasqyrim të thellë të rrethanave aktuale në Kosovë në lidhje me fushën e efiçiencës së energjisë, mbrojtjes së mjedisit, ndryshimet klimatike dhe ndikimet e mjedisit në shëndetin e njeriut;
• Në storiet online dhe gazetë do të vlerësohet edhe cilësia e fotografisë dhe ilustrimeve të përdorura;
• Në storiet TV ose Web TV do vlerësohet edhe kualiteti i figurës dhe kreativiteti në realizimin e stories.

Kush mund të aplikojë?

Të gjitha storiet e publikuara në mediume kosovare, ndërsa përparësi kanë storiet e publikuara në mediumet që janë anëtare të KMShK-së dhe KPM-së.

Aplikuesit inkurajohen që së bashku me storiet të dërgojnë edhe një përshkrim të shkurtë të stories dhe impaktit që e ka pasur storia pas publikimit.

Storiet duhet të jenë të publikuara në mes datave 1 Shkurt 2019 dhe 29 Shkurt 2020.

Të gjitha aplikacionet për Çmimin e Energjisë dhe Mjedisit në Kosovë, në kuadër të projektit “Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda”, do të pranohen deri më 31/03/2020, deri në 23:59, në e-mail adresën: [email protected].

* Aplikimet jo të plota ose aplikimet e dërguara pas afatit kohor nuk do të merren në konsideratë.

Çdo pyetje që ka të bëjë me Çmimin për Energji dhe Mjedis mund të drejtohet në e-mail adresën e përmendur më lart, deri më 15/03/2020 në 23:59.