Category: News and Events

In an era where freedoms are shaped and shaken online, BIRN’s Digital Freedoms Monitoring Tool offers systematic tracking and analysis of digital rights violations in Southeast Europe – aiming to safeguard those rights and drive accountability through evidence.

As a living document, the methodology builds on BIRN’s previous monitoring efforts, now upgraded to address emerging digital violations.

It is organised around seven overarching categories:

1. Freedom of expression and media
2. Freedom, pluralism of information and protection from manipulation
3. Personal data protection and security
4. Digital civic participation and engagement
5. Technological access and equity
6. Threatening behaviour and harmful content
7. Economic rights and digital assets protection

The categories are further broken down into subcategories and types of violations to capture complex and overlapping cases. For each, the methodology outlines affected rights and public interest, targeted groups, perpetrators, and methods of attack.

BIRN’s monitoring across ten countries is grounded in ethical standards, backed by a thorough legal review of national and international frameworks, and informed by diverse sources – including court records, reports of regulators and human rights bodies, media investigations, civil society and academic research and direct citizen reports via BIRN’s Engaged Citizen Reporting tool.

Importantly, BIRN also tracks legal proceedings and policy changes to assess state responses and real-life impact of violations.

Philosophy of Monitoring

The methodology views digital rights as integral to human rights, calling for equal protection online and offline, while also addressing emerging norms like internet access, digital literacy, and inclusion – all aimed at promoting digital equity and fairness.

Its philosophy rejects digital authoritarianism, opposing the surveillance and censorship used by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent. It seeks transparency and accountability from both public and private actors, and supports a multi-stakeholder, decentralised approach to internet governance. This stance is especially relevant when monitoring countries that continue to grapple with the legacies of past authoritarian rule, conflict, or war – many of which operate nowadays as hybrid regimes.

Embracing intersectionality, the methodology recognises that digital harms disproportionately affect marginalised groups and reflect deeper social inequalities. Whether by documenting violations against women, ethnic or sexual minorities, economically disadvantaged individuals, or groups like journalists and civic actors, the monitoring centres the experiences of those most at risk, aspiring for a digital environment that challenges structural injustices.

Open Data for Advocacy and Accountability

What sets the Digital Freedoms Monitoring Tool apart is its transparency.

Users can access, search and download documented cases by country, facilitating trend tracking for interested stakeholders.

The open-access database, continuously updated by the monitoring team, serves both as a resource and a call to action, supporting advocacy and reinforcing accountability by documenting the actions of governments, tech companies, and other societal actors.

The website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union, as part of the Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms project. Its content is the sole responsibility of BIRN and does not necessarily reflect the views of the EU.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, is calling on journalists who are interested in producing in-depth investigations to apply for grants that will cover the cost of producing investigations but also include mentoring support to develop impactful stories that foster accountability and public awareness.

Who is eligible?

Journalists currently working in or publishing stories covering EU member countries and EU aspiring countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Kosovo – can apply.

Please note: this is not a collaborative grant.  Only individual journalists may apply, and each journalist can propose one investigative story.

What are we offering?

Selected journalists will receive grants of €1,140 for the production of their investigative stories (The grant lasts a minimum of three and a maximum of six months). The selected journalists will receive mentoring support from BIRN editors/mentors to help them produce their stories.

This call is ongoing – what does that mean?

Twenty grants in total are available and the ongoing call for applications will be closed once they are all distributed. The third and final deadline after which applications received so far will be evaluated is February 28th, 2026.

How to apply?

Before applying, click HERE to read the full call for applications. After reviewing the information, follow the link to access the application form. Applicants need to attach two documents in English to the application form: a CV and a signed letter of support from the media outlet where they will publish the story.

About the project

This call for applications is part of the Media Organisations for Stronger Transnational Journalism (MOST) initiative, which aims to enhance the resilience of non-profit media in reporting on European issues and drive innovation in foreign reporting. The initiative supports media organisations in developing new approaches and strengthening capacity, fostering collaboration and sharing best practices across borders.

MOST brings together seven prominent media organisations to establish a community of practice focused on business transformation and editorial cooperation.

The project is implemented by a consortium comprising: 1) Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), 2) Centro per la Cooperazione Internazionale (CCI/OBCT); 3) El Orden Mundial – EOM, Spain; 4) European Pravda, Ukraine; 5) Kolegium Europy Wschodniej im Jana Nowaka-Jezioranskiego we Wroclawiu – KeW, Poland (New Eastern Europe); 6) Le Courrier des Balkans – Courriers D’Europe et D’Orient – DcB, France; and 7) Stichting the Tactical Technology Collective – TTC, Netherlands.

For clarifications, contact: [email protected].

The project includes capacity building for mid-career and young journalists, ensuring quality in journalism study programmes, supporting the production of quality news, TV and cross-border investigation stories, providing investigative resource desk support, and promoting these stories through awards. Additionally, the project aims to ensure that the quality of journalism study programmes is maintained for future generations.

1. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

This Content Production Fund aims to support the creation of cross-border journalistic content through providing financial support to media outlets from the Western Balkans. Furthermore, it aims to achieve the following outcomes for the supported media outlets:

• Production of cross-regional multimedia stories published in English and local languages
• Improved skills of journalists in the media outlets by on-the-job training and mentoring, as a part of a grant production scheme.

2. TYPE, SIZE AND DURATION OF GRANTS

Through this call, BIRN Hub invites media outlets to apply for grants to produce high-quality, cross-border journalism on local, national, or regional topics, using their own newsroom resources. Stories should be investigative and impactful, with a clear focus on including underrepresented groups such as minorities, youth and women.

Media outlets are expected to begin implementing their project’s activities from 15/01/2026 and can last up to a maximum of two-and-a-half (2.5) months from the date of contract signature. All activities must conclude by no later than 31/03/2026.

3. AVAILABLE FUNDING AND ALLOCATIONS

The overall amount expected to be distributed under this Call for Applications is up to €60,000. The table summarises the grants foreseen to be given.

Type of Grants	Maximum Amount per Grant	Number of Grants Foreseen	Estimated Amount
Content Production Fund	€5,000	Up to 12	€60,000

BIRN reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted, as well as to discuss with applicants allocating actions as needed within the categories towards achieving the overall goal of the programme.

No co-financing from the applicant’s side is expected or is obligatory within this Call for Applications.

4. APPLICATION

This section includes important information on the rules for application, including eligibility criteria, activities and costs eligibility, and application and evaluation procedures, among others.

5.1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To apply, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate a strong commitment to producing high-quality, independent journalism that includes cross-regional, multimedia content with content pieces featuring perspectives or issues from more than one country from the Western Balkans.
2. Propose an application with an investigative and in-depth angle, with a cross-border aspect and which is impactful for the community
3. Express a clear intention and means of including underrepresented communities in stories. These may include marginalised groups such as minorities, youth, women and other under-reported communities.
4. Be a legally registered entity within the country of application on or before 1 January, 2023.
5. Be able to provide supporting documentation as listed in 5.4.1 Application Form Content.
6. Must not have an active grant from any other BIRN granting scheme during the proposed period of implementation of the production grant.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to actively engage in on-the-job mentoring by following the guidance and recommendations provided by assigned mentors.

5.2 ACTIVITIES ELIGIBILITY

The types of activities eligible for support will include but are not necessarily be limited to:

1. Production of high-quality, independent content pieces that includes a cross-border, multimedia content, with content pieces featuring perspectives or issues from more than one country from the Western Balkans. One example of such content is the following: ‘Lifeless’: Pollution Threatens the Drin and its Tributaries in Three Balkan States | Balkan Insight
2. Production of one cross- border multimedia content piece with an investigative and in-depth angle that is impactful for the community and includes a cross-border aspect, while clearly demonstrating the intention and approach to include underrepresented communities such as minorities, youth, women, and other often under-reported groups in the storytelling. Grantees will receive appropriate mentoring. Content may comprise news, analysis, investigations, different news formats: audio, text, video or multimedia.
3. Promoting content through the social media channels of the respective outlets.

Applicants may propose additional activities beyond those listed above, ensuring their alignment with the project’s vision and goal. These activities should complement the existing ones and may include any relevant investigative engagement stories.

5.3 COSTS ELIGIBILITY

This call for content grants will cover only lifeline costs essential for the continuation of content production by the media outlets. While developing the budget for the proposal under this Call for Applications (budget form enclosed in 5.4.1 Application Form Content) the following eligible and ineligible costs should be:

Eligible Costs
Category	Explanation
Human Resources Costs	Costs of the media outlets’ core staff salaries, freelancers’ fees and experts directly involved in implementing the proposed activities and proportionate to their level of involvement.
Production / Research / Communication Costs	Costs related to the production of the stories, including communication with stakeholders, research costs, as well as costs of promotion of the stories on social media.
Travel Costs	Any travel costs needed to produce the story, especially if it’s a cross-border story or a story covering citizen’s experiences in some local or more remote areas in the country.
Ineligible Costs
Include costs of office equipment, construction costs, entertainment and excessive transport, organisation and/or participation in trainings and events.

5.4 APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

To ensure a fair and competitive application process, applicants should complete and submit only one application / proposal under this Call for Applications. Multiple applications by individual media outlets are not eligible.

5.4.1. APPLICATION FORM CONTENT

To apply for this Content Grants, media outlets should:

• Download and fill out the application form which should:

• • Be completed in the English language. Please use your own words. ChatGPT applications will be downgraded or not considered.
  • Outline general information, current audience data, and a story proposal.

• Submit the following supporting documents within the embedded application form:
  • Financial Proposal. Download the budget template HERE.
  • Financial Statements for the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, if applicable.
  • Certificate from relevant tax authority that the media outlet is a regular taxpayer.
  • A Court Certificate that the media outlet does not have ongoing legal proceedings nor is awaiting the final judgment of cases against the organisation. Note: If obtaining a Court Certificate confirming no ongoing legal proceedings is challenging (e.g., due to SLAPP lawsuits), applicants may submit a detailed explanation of their legal status and the nature of such cases. This ensures equal opportunities for all while maintaining transparency and compliance with administrative requirements.
  • Editorial policy, if applicable.
  • Business Registry Certificate or any other document certifying that the applicant is registered as a legal entity in (country) as of January 2023.

5.4.2 APPLICATION DEADLINE

The applicant must submit the application by 08/1/2026, midnight, CET at: [email protected] with the subject:  Application for Content Production Grants_name of your media outlet

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding. The deadline applies to all parts of your application, including supporting documentation.

5.4.3. CLARIFICATIONS, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions about the Call for Application and Application Form may be sent in English to the Programme Coordinator at this email address: [email protected] until the deadline for clarifications has passed.

5.5 EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

All received proposals will go through the following three steps:

1. Administrative and eligibility check by BIRN to ensure applicants filled in the Application Form, according to the eligibility criteria and submitted all required documents by the deadline.
2. Evaluation by the independent jury.
3. Notification of the application outcome.

STEP 1: BIRN ADMINISTRATIVE AND ELIGIBILITY CHECK

BIRN will undertake administrative checks to ensure the applicants have followed application procedures and submitted all the required documents. If any requested information / document is missing or incorrect, the application may be rejected and will not be evaluated further. Any rejected application will be replaced by the next best-placed application on the reserve list that falls within the available budget for this Call for Applications.

An application that passes the administrative check will be assessed further as part of the evaluation by the independent jury.

STEP 2: EVALUATION BY THE INDEPENDENT JURY

After the call is closed, all applications that meet the administrative requirements and eligibility criteria will be subject to evaluation by an independent jury. A jury consisting of media professionals, acting independently, will assess the proposals based on their Relevance of the Proposed Story, Capacity, Financial Proposal and Potential, including the Social impact.

Please refer to the criteria list for further information on quality assessment.

CRITERIA	MAXIMUM SCORE
1. RELEVANCE OF THE APPLICATION ●     The proposed application should feature at least one cross- border multimedia content piece which tackles an issue relevant to local/national / regional communities. ●     The proposed stories should include a cross-border dimension, with content featuring perspectives or issues from more than one country from the Western Balkans. ●     The proposed stories demonstrate investigative and in-depth potential, while also addressing cross-cutting issues such as the promotion of gender equality, respect for human rights and the inclusion of marginalized groups. ●     Must not have active grant from any other BIRN granting scheme during the proposed period of implementation of the production grant.	20 points
2. CAPACITY  ●     Applicant demonstrates available capacity to implement activities. ●     Applicant demonstrates significant reach in its community. ●     Applicant demonstrates previous experience in engaging communities. ●     Risks and challenges are clearly identified and are manageable.	10 points
3. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL ●     Budget demonstrates value for money – the organisation clearly shows it will manage to implement activities according to the proposed amount.	10 points
4. POTENTIAL ●     The application addresses specific problems affecting particular communities. ●     The media outlet demonstrates a clear commitment to producing meaningful, high-quality content through the proposed application. ●     The proposed story strategically aims to engage new audiences, with a focus on underrepresented groups such as women and girls, youth, and ethnic, social, sexual, or other minorities.	10 points
MAXIMUM TOTAL SCORE	50 points

STEP 3: NOTIFICATION OF THE APPLICATION OUTCOME

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process via email, whether successful or not, and may request clarifications if needed. Upon positive notification, successful applicants will sign the contract with BIRN and become a recipient of the grant.

5. MENTORING

On-the-job training and mentoring will be provided as part of a grant-supported production scheme aimed at strengthening the professional skills and editorial capacities of participating journalists. Following the signing of a contractual agreement by both parties, a dedicated mentor will be assigned to each media outlet.

BIRN will assign mentors to support the implementation of the project’s application in a format of on-the job mentoring.  Media outlets will collaborate with mentors assigned by BIRN to create provisional activity/production plans that will be further confirmed. Throughout the project, BIRN mentors will be available to provide guidance and support to the participating media outlets, while respecting their editorial independence via online/offline meetings and consultation sessions.

6. TIMELINE OF CALL ACTIVITIES

The following is the indicative table of the application, evaluation, notification process and online training:

ACTIVITY	DATE
Call for Applications issued	17/11/2025
Deadline for Submission of Applications	08/01/2026
Notification to Applicants on the Results of the Qualitative Assessment	09/01/2026
Contract Signature	14/01/2026

 

BIRN on Friday published an updated version of ‘Serbia on the Streets’, a comprehensive collection of reports by Balkan Insight about Serbia’s mass protest movement from November 2024 to the present.

The e-book is free to download in PDF and EPUB formats.

It opens with the first report published by Balkan Insight about the Novi Sad railway station disaster of November 1, 2024, which left 16 people dead – the initial spark for the protest movement.

In the aftermath of the disaster, people took to the streets all over Serbia, accusing the authorities of corruption and negligence – and then demanding snap elections.

The reports compiled in the e-book document how students took the lead in the movement with faculty occupations, street blockades, pickets, marches and rallies.

They also document how the authorities responded with a crackdown that raised allegation of heavy-handed policing and victimisation of protest supporters.

Analysis pieces, interviews and on-the-spot reportage articles look deeper into the issues raised by the protests.

“As the protest movement continues, one year on, Balkan Insight’s journalists continue to follow developments in the streets, the courts and the political arena. This e-book give important insights into a turbulent period in Serbian politics and society,” said Gentiana Murati, BIRN’s deputy regional director.

The e-book is available to download here.

Join us for a three-day workshop on the role of media and art in dealing with the past at the History Museum in Sarajevo.

Dates: December 2-5

Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Participants: up to 30 young people involved in activism, art or journalism (ages 18-30)

About the workshop

This interactive three-day workshop explores how media and art can become powerful tools for reconciliation and dealing with the past. Through carefully designed sessions, participants will gain practical knowledge and experience in the fields of intercultural reporting, storytelling and artistic activism (artivism), using creativity as a bridge for dialogue and understanding between communities.

The workshop will be led by experienced mentors in the fields of human rights, transitional justice, media and artistic activism, and participants will develop skills in:

• intercultural reporting and storytelling,
• designing artistic initiatives for reconciliation,
• practical dialogue and creative collaboration.

The workshop will end with a joint multimedia exhibition, which will present the works and reflections of the participants created during the three-day process. After the workshop, four participants will be selected to write media or literary texts that will unify the common messages and conclusions of the young workshop participants – giving voice to a new generation that believes in the power of dialogue and regional reconciliation.

Why participate?

• Learn directly from experts in the fields of media, arts and transitional justice
• Meet and collaborate with peers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Explore Sarajevo through its cultural and historical layers
• Participate in a joint multimedia exhibition
• Strengthen your voice in building a democratic and empathetic society

Who can apply?

The call is open to young people aged 18 to 30 from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina who are:

• active in the field of media, arts or social activism,
• interested in creative storytelling and intercultural dialogue,
• motivated to use art and media as tools for social change and reconciliation.

When selecting participants, we will take into account equal geographical and gender

representation of participants from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to ensure a diversity of perspectives and experiences in working together.

How to apply?

Fill out the application form no later than November 20. Selected participants will be notified by November 24.

All participation costs (travel, accommodation and food) are covered. Together we reflect on the past through stories, creativity and cooperation.

REPORTING CULTURE – Connecting Communities for Change is implemented by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN Hub and Youth Initiative for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Regional office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Tirana, within the framework of “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans”, a project funded by the European Union that aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.