BIRN and n-ost Hold Online Fundraising Workshop in Tuzla

BIRN Hub and partner organisation n-ost held a workshop about online fundraising for nine local media outlets from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia from June 27 to June 30 in Tuzla, which included a public ‘journalism slam’ event in the city.

The workshop and the journalism slam were organised as part of a project entitled ‘Local Journalism – European Perspectives’.

The workshop was designed to inspire local media outlets and give them tools to find their own strategies in managing their finances in the long run.

Lead trainers Luka Bozovic, project manager at BRODOTO, and Sanja Lazic, communications officer at the European Crowdfunding Network, presented the basic online fundraising models and then focused on crowdfunding.

On the second day, the participants learned about and practiced mapping their community, as well as hearing about the importance of creative elements in any fundraising campaign.

They had the opportunity to meet people from media organisations with experience in online fundraising, as there were guest speakers from Pod crto (Slovenia), KRIK (Serbia) and Szabad Pécs (Hungary). From their own perspective, they told the participants about their experience with crowdfunding campaigns.

On the last night of the training course, a ‘journalism slam’ was organized in Tuzla city centre.

This was a public event during which journalists used a selected publication to explain their background from the idea to the research to the finished result, giving an insight into the everyday life of journalistic work.

The speakers at the event were the editor of Front slobode, Alen Haman, and local journalists Maja Nikolic and Natasa Tadic. Guests at the event had the opportunity to ask them questions and exchange more in-depth information about the media scene and journalistic work in their respective countries.

The ‘Local Journalism – European Perspectives’ project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

 

Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda Team Holds Youth Dialogue Meetings in Peja and Gjakova

On June 29 and 30, the Environmentally Responsible Action (ERA) Group, in partnership with BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, and TV Mreza, held two youth dialogue meetings with youngsters from the municipalities of Peja and Gjakova, organised as part of Green Energy Days 2021.

The purpose of the dialogue meetings was to promote the best energy efficiency and environmental practices with young people from Peja and Gjakova. Throughout the dialogue meetings, advocacy work of the partners and other environmental NGOs in Kosovo were discussed, as were the best practices for reducing environmental degradation.

The meetings started off with ERA Group’s Executive Director Fatos Lajqi, who imparted on the groups the importance of Article 52 of the Kosovo Constitution, which states: “Nature, biodiversity, the environment and national inheritance are each and every citizen’s responsibility.”

The second guest at the meetings was Fatos Katallozi from Outdoor Kosova, who covered some of Kosovo’s most pressing environmental issues, focusing particularly on energy efficiency and specific examples of river and environmental protection.

Meanwhile, the third session of each meeting was presented by BIRN Kosovo’s Managing Editor Visar Prebreza, who taught the youngsters from Peja and Gjakova on the basics of environmental investigative journalism, as well as the tools available to advocate for the environment through journalism.

After the talks, participants worked in groups and had the chance to exchange opportunities and ideas on advocating towards a cleaner and better protected environment. They also presented the most pressing environmental issues in their communities and offered solutions and advocacy tools to tackle them.

 The two youth dialogue meetings were organized as part of Green Energy Days 2021, an event held as part of the Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Green Energy Days will take place until 7 July, 2021.

Ekipi i “Evropianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës” organizon takime dialogu me të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova

Më 29 dhe 30 qershor, ERA Group në partneritet me BIRN Kosovën, CEE Bankwatch dhe TV Mrezhën, ka organizuar dy takime dialogu me të rinj nga komuna e Pejës dhe Gjakovës në kuadër të Javës së Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021.

Qëllimi i këtyre takimeve dialogu është të promovohen praktikat më të mira të efiçiencës së energjisë dhe ambientit nga të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova.

Takimet filluan me prezantimin e drejtorit ekzekutiv të ERA Group, Fatos Lajqi, të nenit 52 të Kushtetutës së Republikës së Kosovës i cili thotë që: “Natyra dhe biodiversiteti, mjedisi jetësor dhe trashëgimia kombëtare, janë përgjegjësi për secilin”.

Gjatë diskutimit u prezantuan arritjet kryesore të partnerëve të projektit dhe OJQ-ve bashkëpunuese mbi mbrojtjen e ambientit dhe praktikat më të mira për uljen e dëmeve mjedisore.

I ftuari i dytë në këto takime ishte Fatos Katallozi nga Outdoor Kosova, i cili diskutoi për çështje më të ngutshme mbi ambientin lidhur me efiçiencën e energjisë.

Shembuj praktikë të mbrojtjes dhe ruajtjes së energjisë, lumenjve dhe ambientit në tërësi u shpalosën në këto takime.

Sesioni i fundit u zhvillua nga redaktori menaxhues i BIRN Kosova, Visar Prebreza, i cili i mësoi të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova bazat e gazetarisë hulumtuese në fushën e ambientit si dhe mjetet gazetareske për të avokuar drejt një ambienti të pastër përmes gazetarisë hulumtuese.

Pas diskutimit nga të ftuarit në takime, pjesëmarrësit zhvilluan punë në grupe, ku patën mundësitë të shkëmbejnë informata dhe ide mbi avokimin ndaj mbrotjes së mjedisit si dhe përgatitën prezantime me problemet më të ngutshme mjedisore në komunitetet e tyrë, të cilat më pas i prezantuan dhe gjetën zgjidhje për to.

Ky aktivitet u organizua si pjesë e aktivitetit “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021”, aktivitet brenda projektit të financuar nga Zyra e Bashkimit Evropian në Kosovë, “Evropianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës”. “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër” do të zgjasin deri më 7 korrik 2021.

Tim na projektu „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine” organizuje sastanke za dijalog sa mladima iz Peći i Đakovice

Dana 29. i 30. juna, ERA Group je u partnerstvu sa BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, i TV Mrežom, organizovala dva sastanka dijaloga sa mladima iz Peći i Đakovice, kao deo Nedelje zelene energije 2021.

Cilj ovih sastanaka bio je da se promovišu najbolje prakse energetske efikasnosti i zaštite životne sredine od strane mladih iz Peći i Đakovice.

Sastanci su počeli prezentacijom izvršnog direktora ERA Group – Fatosa Ljajći, koji je predstavio član 52 Ustava Republike Kosovo, koji glasi: „Priroda i biodiverzitet, životna sredina i nacionalno nasleđe su obaveza svakog lica.” Tokom diskusije su predstavljena glavna dostignuća partnera na projektu i NVO-a koji sarađuju na njemu u vezi sa zaštitom životne sredine i najboljim praksama za smanjenje štete pričinjene životnoj sredini.

Drugi pozvani na ovaj sastanak bio je Fatos Katalozi iz Outdoor Kosova koji se osvrnuo na goruća pitanja kada je reč o životnoj sredini u vezi sa energetskom efikasnošću; praktične primere zaštite i očuvanja energije, reka i životne sredine u celosti, koji su predstavljeni na ovim sastancima.

Poslednju sesiju vodio je glavni i odgovorni urednik BIRN Kosovo – Visar Prebreza koji je mlade iz Peći i Đakovice naučio nešto više o osnovama istraživačkog novinarstva o životnoj sredini kao i o novinarskim sredstvima za zagovaranje čiste životne sredine putem istraživačkog novinarstva.

Nakon izlaganja, učesnici su radili u grupama gde su imali priliku da razmene informacije i ideje o zagovaranju zaštite životne sredine i pripremili prezentacije o gorućim ekološkim problemima u njihovim zajednicama, nakon čega su predstavljena i rešenja na iste.

Ova aktivnost organizovana je kao deo aktivnosti „Dani zelene energije 2021”, kao deo projekta koji finansira Kancelarija Evropske unije na Kosovu, „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine”. „Dani zelene energije”, trajaće do 7. jula 2021.

 

Meet the People Behind BIRN: Ivana Nikolic

Each month, BIRN introduces you to its people. For June, meet Ivana Nikolic, Programme Coordinator for BIRN Investigative Reporting Initiative.

Nikolic, 29, first came to BIRN in 2014 as an intern, where she worked on The Unidentified, a documentary about the war crimes in Kosovo in 1999.

Following her internship, Ivana got her first job in BIRN. From 2014 until 2017, she worked as a journalist covering Serbia and Balkan Transitional Justice. Besides that, she was the Coordinator of BIRN’s bi-weekly newspaper, Belgrade Insight.

In February 2020, she re-joined BIRN and is now responsible for managing and coordinating all activities within the BIRN Investigative Reporting Initiative programme, including BIRN’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting.

The time when BIRN is about to publish an investigation is one of the things she loves most about her job. “This is the core of the programme I work for: exposing wrongdoings and malpractices of governments, state officials and other mighty public figures or international bodies is extremely important – and that is exactly what investigative journalism is,” she tells us.

This August, BIRN will host the 11th Summer School of Investigative Reporting. From 23-30 August, top journalists and editors will come together for a week-long training programme in the picturesque Croatian coastal village of Mlini. Nikolic, who is among those responsible for the School’s organisation, tells more about it.

Ever since the first edition in 2010, BIRN has trained more than 300 journalists from the region and internationally in open-source techniques, financial forensics, data journalism etc.; and has provided them with financial, editorial, mentorship and editorial support.

Following each Summer School, the participating journalists produce their investigations. Over the years, a good number of hard-hitting stories have been published and also republished by a growing number of regional and international media outlets.

“Our Summer School really helps journalists in the region and beyond, enabling and encouraging them to do complex investigations of public interest, no matter what obstacles and challenges they might come across on the way,” Nikolic says.

This year, BIRN is pairing up with the journalists and trainers from Lighthouse Reports, an award-winning non-profit based in the Netherlands and known for its cross-border investigation projects.

“In the afternoon sessions, selected journalists will be divided into three groups. Each group will have its lead trainers from BIRN and Lighthouse Reports and will work on specific investigations into topics such as arms, surveillance, agriculture and waste,” Nikolic explains, and adds: “These four tracks are currently of utmost importance at a global level, which is why we decided to include them in this Summer School.”

Asked why should journalists apply for a place in this Summer School, she responds: “In the regions where journalists generally lack access to training opportunities and financial support, and where their professional journalistic and investigative reporting skills are poor, BIRN Summer School is undoubtedly of great importance. Throughout all these years, the Summer School has managed to become a unique event in this part of the world, and has also become the leading platform for journalists to expand their investigative skills.

“They should definitely apply if they are eager to learn – and apply – something new and innovative; if they would like to work within cross-border teams, with experienced and award-winning editors and trainers; and last but not least, if they are looking for excellent networking opportunities. If ‘yes’ is the answer to all these questions, then the Summer School is the right place for you,” she stresses.

Join us at this year’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting in Croatia. You’ll learn from the best in the business and get financial support to produce a cross-border investigation.

Former participants are also eligible to apply.

Read more here.

 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Third Training Course on Fact-Checking and Tackling Misinformation

On June 16-17, BIRN Kosovo, in partnership with the International Press Institute, IPI, held its third and final two-day training course on tackling disinformation and establishing fact-checking methods. All three courses were organised as part of the EU-funded Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists project.

Across the course’s two days, participants interacted via video call with specialists from across Europe.

On the first day, Claus Hesseling, a journalist, lecturer and trainer from Germany, outlined the essential questions that journalists should ask themselves when dealing with misinformation. Hesseling explained various methods of photo verification, particularly for images originating from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with participants learning practical skills on how to verify online images. He also demonstrated how to confirm the authenticity of video content, using practical exercises to see how investigative journalists respond to videos from unknown sources.

Meanwhile, the second day’s training was administered by journalists from a range of European countries, including Greece, Slovakia, and Lithuania.

The first session of the second day was held with Slovak journalist, Miroslava Sirotnikova, who gave an overview of the disinformation landscape in her country, and explained how the media and members of civil society are fighting back. Then, in the second session, Kostas Zapeiropoulos from Greece, co-founder of the Mediterranean Institute for Investigative Reporting and author of Alexander the Bot: The Twitter War for the Macedonian Soul, shared his insights on misinformation, which he identifies as a growing threat to democracy.

Following Zapeiropoulos was Sarah Hurtes, who spoke about the rampant levels of disinformation circling online, which she believes is the key reason that Europe is the world’s most vaccine-skeptic region.

Within an amorphous online ecosystem, Hurtes has managed to trace a sophisticated, organised cadre of professionals who work at national and cross-border level to amplify their key anti-vaccine message She shared her experience of identifying the inner workings of the anti-vaccination movement in Europe with the participants.

Later, Edgaras Savickas, an investigative journalist who has worked as a business reporter for Lithuania’s Delfi news portal for more than six years, shared the experience he gained during a major investigation into who is financing fake news in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Following Savickas’ session, Darren Loucaides, a UK journalist based in Spain, shared his insight learned from a cross-border, four-country investigation into how disinformation campaigns by hostile foreign actors have affected Europe.

A total of 32 participants took part in the training, 23 of whom were women. BIRN and IPI believe that through this program, journalists from Kosovo received insight information on how to tackle fake news and misinformation, helping them to spot fake news through different tools and provide verified information.

Platform B: Amplifying Strong and Credible SEE Voices

Event series by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and partners

Together with our partners, BIRN is launching a series of online and offline events aimed to amplify the voices of strong and credible individuals and organisations in the region that promote the core values of democracy, such as civic engagement, independent institutions, transparency and rule of law.

As a primarily media organisation, we want to open space and provide a platform to discuss and reshape our alliances in light of the challenges facing democracies in South-East and Central Europe.

This effort comes at a critical time when the region is seeing several troubling trends: centralized power, reduced transparency, assaults on media, politicized judiciaries, unchecked corruption, online violations and social polarization – all amidst heightened geopolitical tensions and deep divisions in Europe.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Platform B event series will be organised in accordance with all relevant health measures. As the situation improves, we hope to be able to host some of the events in BIRN spaces in Sarajevo and Belgrade, and elsewhere in the region.

The Platform B will be an opportunity for individuals and groups to meet monthly on selected topics.

Opening event: Digital Rights Falter Amid Political and Social Unrest: What Now?

Date: 1 July, 2021 (Thursday)

Time: 15.00, CET

At this event, BIRN and SHARE Foundation will discuss its annual digital rights report, together with other members of the newly established SEE Network, talking about the key trends concerning the digital ecosystem.

We monitored digital rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia and collected more than 1500 cases of online violations.

In Southern and Eastern Europe, where online disinformation campaigns are endangering guaranteed individual freedoms, and while the decline in internet safety has become a worrying trend, citizens with poor media and digital illiteracy have been left without viable protection mechanisms.

The event participants will have an opportunity to discuss and hear reflections from representatives of: EDRi, Zasto ne?, Citizen D, Homo Digitalis, SCiDEV, Partners Serbia, Metamorphosis, Atina NGO, Media Development Center.

More information and registration

Second event: Freedom of Information in the Balkans: Classified, Rejected, Delayed

Date: July 15, 2021 (Thursday)

Time: 14.00, CET

The global pandemic has been used as an excuse for many Balkan states to not fully implement freedom of information laws, leaving the public in the dark.

Transparency has been another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While on paper, freedom of information laws are up-to-date in almost all countries in the region, implementation is patchy at best and has grown worse since governments clamped down on the flow of information with the onset of the coronavirus.

Together with journalists, public information officers and colleagues from Open Government Partnership we will reflect on the findings of BIRN’s tracking institutional transparency report and offer recommendations on how to make our institutions open and accountable.

Registration form will be available here soon.

Events in August and in the fall will focus on investigative journalism and gender justice.

BIRN Kosovo Holds Second Training With High School Students in Gjilan

On June 18, BIRN Kosovo held a second training session with students of the Zenel Hajdini high school in the municipality of Gjilan.

The training was held as part of the “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists” project, and was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 16 students from the social sciences department of the Zenel Hajdini high school participated, 11 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

In the upcoming months, BIRN will hold another eight sessions at the Social Studies department of high schools from across Kosovo.

 

BIRN Kosovo Starts New Training Program for High School Students

On June 15, BIRN Kosovo held a training session with students from the Shaban Hashani high school in Ferizaj, as part of the Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists project

The session was the first held in BIRN Kosovo’s new training program for students at Kosovo’s state-run high schools who are interested in gaining experience in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles. By engaging Kosovo’s citizens at this young age, it is hoped that the next generation of journalists will go on to increase the independence of the media and the transparency and accountability of public institutions, as well as enhance civic engagement.

In the first session which took place in the municipality of Ferizaj, a total of 19 students participated, 15 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, the youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas. These pitches will be collected and thoroughly analysed by the BIRN team, who will then select the best stories for publication on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth), the production of which will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

In the upcoming months, BIRN will hold another nine training sessions at social studies departments in public high schools across Kosovo.

 

BIRN Investigation of Fugitive Montenegrin Ex-President’s Son Wins Award

BIRN’s investigation into the controversial business of Milos Marovic, son of Montenegrin fugitive ex-president Svetozar Marovic, was among the winning reports in this year’s EU Awards for Investigative Journalism, given for stories published in 2020 in Montenegro.

BIRN’s investigation, ‘Son of Fugitive Ex-President Builds Raspberry Fortune in Serbia’, revealing how Serbia serves as a ‘safe haven’ for the family of the fugitive Montenegrin former politician Svetozar Marovic, was awarded third place in the EU Awards for Investigative Journalism at a ceremony on June 15 in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica.

The investigative report, produced by BIRN’s Sasa Dragojlo from Serbia, Marko Vesovic of Dan in Montenegro and Vladimir Otasevic from Montenegrin investigative media Lupa, was published in December 2020 and republished by a number of local and international media outlets. It showed that since fleeing a prison sentence in Montenegro in 2016, Marovic’s son Milos has built up agricultural land holdings in Serbia worth more than a million euros.

After the investigation was published, the Montenegrin authorities renewed their call for Svetozar Marozic’s extradition.

Serbia, on the other hand, remained silent, and also rejected a BIRN freedom of information request on the progress of Montenegro’s attempt to extradite Svetozar Marovic, saying its laws oblige it to “maintain confidentiality” about the case.

Commenting on the award, Dragojlo said that investigative journalism should be used to confront “the mighty and privileged and their damaging or corrupt actions”.

“That often looks like a Sisyphean task, but awards like this are a sign that not everything is in vain, and that shining a light on the dubious deeds of the elites are beneficial for the whole of society,” he said.

“I want to thank the colleagues I worked with for their commitment and encourage other journalists to cooperate more as transnational teams, since for a long time there have been no borders nor boundaries for the crooked,” he added.

First prize went to journalists Biljana Matijasevic and Alisa Hajdarpasic for their story ‘Portonovi is Owned by the Daughter of the President of Azerbaijan’, published by Centre for Investigative Journalism in Montenegro.

Second prize was awarded to Svetlana Djokic of TV Vijesti for the series ‘Way of Revenge’, while Dejan Milovac from MANS received a special award for research for the investigation ‘Dossier Carevic: All the President’s People’.

The EU Awards for Investigative Journalism in Montenegro is part of an ongoing EU-funded project entitled Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey, implemented by BIRN Hub in partnership with Thomson Media gGmbH (TM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Broadcast Union (EBU), Central European University (CEU CDMS), the Media Association of South-East Europe (MASE), the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG), the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM), BIRN Albania and BIRN Serbia.

The aim of the project is to empower and support independent journalism and investigative journalists.

 

Deadline Extended for Applications for Traineeship Programme for Young Journalists from North Macedonia

The deadline for submission of applications for the four-month traineeship programme for students, recent graduates and young journalists from North Macedonia has been extended until June 21st, 2021, at midnight Central European Time.

If you are looking to kick off your career in journalism, but are struggling to find the right place to gain practical knowledge, our traineeship programme is what you need. The second round of the traineeship programme was launched after successfully completing a first cycle from November 2020 until February 2021, where 12 aspiring, young journalists spent four months working in professional newsrooms in the region, producing over 300 different news pieces. Some examples of their work may be seen here, here, here and here.

The programme, implemented within the Media for All project saw a great success as a number of participants were offered roles or temporary positions at different media after completing their traineeship.

Interns will have the chance to become full-time members of the newsroom for four months, attending editorial meetings, learning how to pitch ideas and chose relevant angle for a story, learning how to cover daily events and perform different kinds of interviews, working in the field, doing a live broadcast, writing analyses, feature stories, fact-checks and much more. Trainees will receive financial support to cover minimum living costs during those four months.

Due to the travel restrictions and health concerns caused by COVID-19, applicants will be placed in the outlet in their country of residence. Applicants may express their preferences as to which media outlet they would like to spend their traineeship with, but the organisers maintain the right to make the final decision about placement.

Who can apply?

Senior year journalism students, recent graduates or young journalists from North Macedonia may apply.

Applicants must be between 18 and 26 years old.

Candidates from all parts of the country in question are encouraged to apply, as the project can provide funds for travel within one country, as well as accommodation costs.

Financial support:

All selected participants will receive financial support during their placement to cover minimum living costs.

In case candidates need to travel or relocate within the country during the course of the programme, travel and accommodation costs will also be covered by the organisers.

How to apply?

Applicants should complete and submit only one application. All applications should be submitted in English before June 21st, at midnight CET to [email protected] along with the following documents:

  • Applicant’s CV (in English)
  • Motivation letter (in English)
  • Work sample (in English or local language)
  • Evidence of status (in English or local language)

The motivation letter should show how you would benefit from this programme and your motivation to participate.

Applicants who do not have any published work can submit their student assignments from practical courses in journalism.

Applicants should provide evidence of their current status – whether they are students, recent graduates or working as journalists. This evidence includes, but are not limited to, confirmation of enrolment for the ongoing academic year OR diploma/degree certificate/confirmation of graduation issued in the last two years OR evidence of your current employment.

DURATION OF TRAINEESHIP: July 2021 – October 2021

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 21st, 2021 CET

ONLINE TRAINING: Two weeks, July 2021

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Download here

APPLICATION FORM: Download here

LIST OF HOST MEDIA: Download here

DATA PROTECTION INFO: Privacy notice

BIRN Summer School Offers Investigative Reporting Training on Croatia Coast

BIRN’s flagship Summer School of Investigative Reporting returns for the 11th time in August, offering journalists a unique opportunity to learn investigative skills from award-winning trainers and journalists.

The Summer School of Investigative Reporting, which will be held this year in Croatia’s picturesque coastal village of Mlini from August 23-30, will again put together top journalists and editors for a week-long training programme.

Due to the global pandemic, BIRN has changed its usual programme in order to ensure that health and safety measures are respected. This year’s hybrid programme will include both online and offline sessions.

This year, BIRN is teaming up with journalists and trainers from Lighthouse Reports, an award-winning non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands which leads complex transnational investigations blending traditional journalistic methods with emerging techniques like open source intelligence and specialisms like data science.

For the first time this summer, applicants will have the chance to choose one of four course themes: Arms, Surveillance, Agriculture and Waste. Part of the training programme will be focused on the three themes that attract most interest from the participants.

In the mornings, participants will have joint sessions in hands-on investigative journalism skills, such as open source techniques, financial forensics and data journalism.

In the afternoon sessions, participants will be divided into three groups, depending on the theme they are following. Each group will have its lead trainers and will work with them on specific investigations, covering their group’s topic, applying the skills and techniques acquired during the morning sessions. Specific ideas and story angles, as well as the materials needed, will be prepared prior to the Summer School and participants will receive them during a briefing on the first day.

Work on the investigations is expected to be finalised during the Summer School, with only minor final work to be left for afterwards. Journalists from other media outlets are encouraged to co-publish the investigations originate at the Summer School.

The agenda and a detailed list of trainers will be published in the coming weeks.

We are providing 30 full scholarships for selected participants. This will cover accommodation, meals, as well as transportation expenses of up to 150 euros. Apart from the training, editorial support and mentorship, BIRN will, through our Investigative Initiative Fund, provide participants with fees.

Eligible participants include journalists who have experience in investigative reporting and who have covered the course theme they have chosen. Journalists from the following countries are eligible to apply: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Turkey.

Journalists who had previously participated in our Summer Schools are again eligible to apply.

Since the first Summer School in 2010, BIRN has trained more than 300 journalists from the Balkans and beyond, providing them with financial, editorial, mentorship and publication support. The participants, who are usually a mixture of experienced investigative journalists and those who have only a few years of experience in the field, are also provided with excellent opportunities for networking.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, there is a possibility that some trainers will not be able to come to Croatia, so they will join us online via Zoom. BIRN also aims to undertake all the necessary preventive and protection measures and will inform the participants of COVID-19 related rules and procedures. In case the offline setting is not possible, school will most likely take place online.

The application procedure includes sending a completed application form and CV as well as a sample of your work.

Applications close on July 7.

Click here to apply.

DATA PROTECTION INFO: Privacy notice