Category: News and Events

Unite for Freedom, BIRN Media Debate Hears

Panellists and guests at the ‘Free the media’ debate concluded that in times of financial hardship and other pressures, journalists must unite against new forms of censorship.

BIRN Serbia and Human Right House organised the first in a series of debates on media freedom on Thursday in Belgrade’s Media Centre.

One of the messages from the debate that gathered more then 50 people, including journalists, NGO activists and representatives of embassies, is the need for journalists, NGOs and citizens to connect and join forces in the fight for human rights and media freedom.

The debate was staged in the aftermath of the campaign launched against BIRN by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic after the organisation published an investigation on January 8 published a report on the controversial tender to de-water Tamnava mine.

Jovana Gligorijevic, from the weekly magazine Vreme, the only outlet to republish the BIRN investigation in full, said that the pressures had started even before the story was out.

“While the article was still being drafted, we received a phone call and it sounded like this: We heard that those people of yours [BIRN Serbia] are writing about this topic; if you publish it, we’ll sue you,” Gligorijevic said.

Gordana Igric, BIRN regional director, said the campaign against BIRN revealed the scale of the pressure on media freedom in Serbia.

In two first weeks of the campaign, she recalled, while the media reported on BIRN 294 times, BIRN had been contacted only 11 times to give statements and answer accusations or provide explanations of the story. None of the mainstream media contacted BIRN.

“That does not mean that media don’t want to report, but that they are completely hemmed in by an economically devastated country,” Igric stated, sourcing one of the main problems in the difficult financial situation of both media outlets and journalists.

“We need a coalition in the Balkans. Journalism is the field where the public interest is being defended, it’s not just a field where the money may be earned,” Igric said.

Journalists from southern and east Serbia participated in the debate via a video link from the Media Centre in the city of Nis.

Panellists recalled that while the state murdered journalists back in the Nineties, nowadays it was “killing them financially.”

Predrag Blagojevic, editor of newspaper Juzne Vesti, said the funds that the state allocates to the media are a key tool of control.

“The state pressures and controls the media through the money they give them by secret contracts, and in that situation it is impossible to expect them [those media] to criticise the government,” Blagojevic said.

He added that another form of financial pressure is what his newsroom faces constantly.

“Tax authorities are constantly in our office. Of course there are differences in levels of communications, threats, but the basics of control are the same,” he said.

Jovana Gligorijevic, from the weekly Vreme, agreed that pressures on media were common, and no one should expect them to just disappear; they had to be fought back against.

“Freedom is being conquered,” she warned.

Maja Stojanovic, executive director of Civic Initiatives, a member of Human Rights House, said the media, NGOs and ordinary people had to come together and fight for freedom of expression.

“It is our responsibility that media aren’t free, us as citizens and civil society organisations, because we haven’t done more,” Stojanovic said.

“Free Media” debate was the first in a series of events that BIRN Serbia and Human Rights House will be organising monthly. The Twitter tag on which everyone can follow the events and share the information is #OslobodiMedije.

BIRN Addresses International Human Rights Organisations

BIRN Regional Director Gordana Igric has sent a letter on behalf of the network to more than 30 international human rights and media organisations including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and International Press Institute to highlight the continued pressure on BIRN in Serbia.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, wishes to draw your attention to alarming developments in Serbia, where the Serbian Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials are conducting unprecedented attacks against critical voices, be it organisations or individuals.

It has been exactly a month since our organization came under attack for publishing an investigation flagging up important issues of public interest. In response, the government branded BIRN journalists EU mercenaries, spies and “liars”, working against Serbian national interests. The attacks from government-allied media have since receded but they have not stopped.

In the meantime, other organizations and independent institutions, like the Humanitarian Law Centre and the Serbian ombudsman have also come under fire, with almost identical ammunition, labeling them traitors, mercenaries, etc, which points to a worrying pattern and sends a clear message to any critical voices about what lies ahead.

Since the campaign against BIRN was launched, over 40 civil society organisations have called on the Serbian authorities to protect the public interest and investigate the concerns raised by BIRN, and many of them have engaged with BIRN to organise a series of events dedicated to freedom of speech.

For a while now the international community’s approach to the region appears to prioritise stability at the expense of democratic freedoms. In Serbia’s case, as long as the country is cooperating with the EU-led dialogue with Kosovo, there is a silence regarding other worrying developments.

BIRN and its partners are deeply concerned that the situation is likely to deteriorate further and we therefore appeal to you to express concern over these issues.

BIRN Wins Grizelj Award in Serbia

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, NUNS, has announced that BIRN Serbia had received Jug Grizelj Award for investigative journalism for 2014.

 

The jury, which comprised prominent journalists and editors, unanimously awarded BIRN the prize for the most exciting and investigative work, which provoked the strongest reactions, launched a public debate and asked questions of the authorities.

Since 1991, the family of journalist Jug Grizelj, who died in 1991, has been awarding journalists and media organisations for the highest achievements in investigative journalism, developing friendship among people and removing boundaries between nations with the aim of preserving the memory of Grizelj and encouraging investigative journalism.

With the consent of the family, NUNS has awarded the prize since 2012. Recipients of this award include Lila Radonjic, Predrag Koraksic, Gordana Logar, Bojana Lekic, Svetlana Lukic, Stojan Cerovic, Borba daily paper, Beta news agency, agencija Beta, Teofil Pancic, Omer Karabeg, Antonela Riha, Milos Vasic, Brankica Stankovic, Filip Svarm, Vukasin Obradovic, Olja Beckovic and others.

The handover of the award will be held at Belgrade Media Centre on Thursday, February 5, at noon.

In the past month, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Serbia has been a target of an unprecedented attack led by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and pro government media to present the Network as EU mercenaries, spies and liars working against Serbian national interests.

The attack came after January 8, when BIRN published an investigation that posed serious questions of public interest over a tender for de-watering the flooded Tamnava mine.

The following day, Vucic responded angrily by calling BIRN’s journalists liars. All media in the country carried his allegations. Only few media dared to carry the investigation or approach BIRN for response.

A joint statement by 43 NGOs and media organisations calling on the Serbian authorities to protect the public interest and investigate legal concerns raised by BIRN over the mine tender has yielded no result so far.

Role of media in post-conflict societies

BIRN BiH participated at the Peace Academy for ten Ukrainian journalists and activists in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), organized by Do No Harm: Fostering Conflict – Sensitivity in Southern and Eastern Ukraine programme.

Mirna Buljugic, acting director of BIRN BiH, Slobodanka Dekic, project co-ordinator at Mediacentar Sarajevo, and Velma Saric, a journalist of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting and founder of the Post Conflict Research Centre, introduced the post-conflict situation in BiH with an accent on conflict-sensitive journalism.

Slobodanka Dekic explained the importance of the lustration process among the journalists who were spreading hatred. “When the conflict has ended, politicians will try to marginalise all the crimes. Ownership of the media has a great role in editorial politics, but today the Internet makes it harder to hide information and truth,” Dekic said.

Velma Saric pointed that it is especially difficult to report from the war crime trials, since a journalist has to learn how to put emotions aside and to tell the facts only. “Journalist have to be aware of their tasks, they have to change wrong perceptions and present concrete solutions how the sides in conflict can go towards reconciliation.”

Mirna Buljugic talked about the importance of objective reporting, focusing on presenting war crime trials. “With the presentation of adequate and objective facts, you can have a huge impact on judicial institutions. After our documentary ‘Silent Scream’, a Prosecutor reacted to one of the victim’s stories and an investigation was launched. This is a practical example of how you can make changes with unbiased writing and storytelling,” Buljugic said.

BIRN Albania Launches Call for Investigative Reports on Justice

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania launched a call for investigative stories on February 26st.

The call is part of the program ‘Exposing Corruption in Albania,’ supported by the Open Society Foundation in Albania (OSFA),  the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

In this call that closes on February 6th, three journalists will be awarded a grant to cover their expenses while doing the investigation and writing the story on issues related to corruption and impunity in the justice sector.

Journalists will have about two months to dig deeper and research their ideas, but also will have the opportunity to work with experienced editors as their mentors to guide them through the process of writing to BIRN standards.

More calls for investigative grants will follow, for a total of 21 stories until December 2016.Topics for investigations of future calls will include: Health, Organized Crime, Local Government and Public Administration.

The call only applies to journalists from Albania.

Click for more information about the application procedure, with details in Albanian.

Thirrje për artikuj investigativë në fushën e drejtësisë

Thirrja organizohet nga Rrjeti Ballkanik për Gazetarinë Investigative në Shqipëri (BIRN Albania), me mbështetjen e Fondacionit Shoqëria e Hapur për Shipërinë,Balkan Trust for Democracy dhe National Endowment for Democracy.

Nëpërmjet këtij konkursi tre (3) gazetarë investigativë do të përzgjidhen për të prodhuar artikuj investigativë në fushën e drejtësisë, në bashkpunim me shoqërinë civile. Fituesit do të përzgjidhen nga një juri e pavarur e përbërë nga gazetarë me eksperiencë dhe ekspertë në fushën e drejtësisë.

Aplikantët e përzgjedhur, të cilët do marrin një bursë prej 1,200 USD (minus taksën të ardhurave personale), do kenë në dispozicion një periudhë dy mujore për të përfunduar investigimin e tyre dhe përgatitjen e artikullit për publikim.

Kandidatët fitues pritet që të angazhohen dhe të përmbushin të gjitha detyrimet në lidhje me investigimin, siç janë: takimet e shpeshta (javore) me redaktorin, publikimi i tekstit në faqen e BIRN Albania www.Reporter.aldhe gjithashtu në www.BalkanInsight.com, si dhe respektimin e standardeve të gazetarisë investigative dhe etikës profesionale.

Kandidatët duhet të formulojnë një propozim të detajuar për konkursin. Propozimet duhet të kenë për qëllim ekspozimin e korrupsionit, abuzimit me pushtetin, pandëshkueshmërisë dhe mungesës së zbatimit të ligjit në fushë e drejtësisë.

Prioritet në përzgjedhje do i kushtohet propozimeve të cilat përfshijnë një nga temat e mëposhtme, të sygjeruara si prioritare gjatë një tryeze të rrumbullakët midis gazetarëve dhe përfaqësuesve tëshoqërisë civile në fushën e drejtësisë të organizuar nga BIRN Albania:

– Rastet e mosfillimit, apo te pushimit te procedimit penal nga prokuroret, ne rastet kur kallëzimi është bere nga administrata publike

– Rastet e mosankimit ne gjykate nga administrata publike kundër vendimeve te prokurorit për mosfillim ose pushim te ndjekjes penale, ose tërheqjet nga e drejta e ankimit, ne rastet e kallëzimeve te bëra nga vete administrata publike

– Rastet e vonesës se paarsyeshme te shqyrtimit te çështjeve te rëndësishme nga gjykatat

– Rastet e personave te larguar (për shkak te mos marrjes se masës se sigurisë “arrest ne burg”, te cilet kane sot janë ne kërkim

– Sjellja/pasurimi i zyrtareve te larte te pushtetit gjyqësor, pas largimit nga detyra/mbarimit te mandatit

– Promovimi i gjyqtareve

– Rastet e karrierës se anëtareve te KLD-se, gjate kohës qe ata janë në ketë detyre

– Shkaqet e ndryshimit te rezultateve te ndryshme nga inspektimet e njëkohshme te Inspektoratit te KLD-se dhe Inspektoratet te Ministrisë se Drejtësisë, dhe problemet e shkaktuara nga këto mospërputhje te inspektimeve te dyfishta

– Monitorimi i deklaratave te pasurive te gjyqtareve dhe funksionareve te tjerë te larte ne fushën e drejtësisë

– Si përfshihen ne gare kandidatet për Gjykatën e Larte, apo Gjykatën Kushtetuese, etj.

– Moszbatimi i vendimeve gjyqësore nga ana e përmbaruesve gjyqësore ne çështjet civile, apo nga organi i prokurorisë ne çështjet penale

– Arsyet e mosfllimit te procedimeve te pushuara për shkak te imunitetit parlamentar, tashme qe ky imunitet është shfuqizuar me ndryshimet kushtetuese te vitit 2012.

Aplikantët mund të dërgojnë më shumë se një aplikim, por vetëm një propozim për kandidat do të përzgjidhet.

Të drejtën për të aplikuar e kanë të gjithë gazetarët në Shqipëri, të punësuar apo në profesion të lirë.

Kandidatëvei kërkohet qëbashkëme formularin e plotësuar të aplikimit të dërgojnë një CV, dhe tre shembuj të punës së tyre me email në:[email protected]

Afati i Aplikimit: 6 Shkurt, 2015

Kandidatët e përzgjedhur do të njoftohen deri më datë: 9 Shkurt, 2015

BIRN Files Complaint Against Informer for its Reporting

BIRN has filed a complaint against Informer newspaper before the Complaints Commission of the Serbian Press Council following the paper’s reporting on BIRN’s investigation into the Tamnava mine.

“In the midst of a public debate regarding our article ‘Pumping out the mine and the budget,’ Informer published a series of false information, slander, as well as unsubstantiated accusations, intentionally or unintentionally ignoring the substance of the topics we dealt with, thus jeopardizing our professional credibility and personal integrity, and the safety of our journalists,” BIRN said on January 23.

In the same article, Informer accuses BIRN of being part of a media mob and of “racketeering” the state on behalf of the EU. It also accuses BIRN of wanting to get hold of 23.2 million euro.

“The head of BIRN, journalist Slobodan Georgijev, instead of apologizing for the lie, continues to accuse the government of censorship, and claims that he is being persecuted!?!” Informer said on January 15.

Moreover, Informer dubbed BIRN journalists corrupt saying that the EU paid them to lobby for some EU companies to win the Serbian tender.

When filing a complaint, BIRN referred to the sections of the Code of Journalists of Serbia, related to the veracity of reporting and journalistic attention.

The complaint was also sent to Dragan Vucicevic, the editor of the Informer.

Click here for more information about the attacks on BIRN after the publication of the Tamnava mine story.

Belgrade Business School Illegally Organises Classes

Belgrade Business School is illegally organising classes in at least twenty cities and municipalities throughout Serbia, and the state has no means to prevent it, according to a new investigation conducted by BIRN Serbia.

BIRN Serbia’s research shows that Belgrade Business School organises teaching in at least 20 places although it has formally accredited only three branch offices.

A large number of students are registered, which makes more money for the school, but at the expense of the quality of teaching and evaluation.

The school continuously enrolls new students during the year, exceeding the permitted quota for admission.

Belgrade Business School thus provides its professors with additional income and is considered one of the most profitable educational institutions in Serbia.

The complete research in Serbian language can be found at http://javno.rs/istrazivanja/vikend-studiranje-na-poslovnoj-skoli

BIRN Albania Holds Roundtable on Justice

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Albania organised a roundtable on January 20th in Tirana, bringing together journalists and civil society organisations working in the field of justice and the rule of law.

It was the third in a series of seven roundtables, part of a programme called ‘Exposing Corruption in Albania’, which is financed by the Open Society Foundation in Albania (OSFA),  the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The project aims to expose corruption cases in seven different sectors: the environment, the judiciary, education, public administration, local government, organised crime and health, by bridging the gap between journalists and CSOs, and by providing a solid basis for collaboration in exposing abuses of power.

About 12 representatives of non-governmental organisations and six journalists discussed different topics of concern regarding education in Albania, with a special focus on corruption and impunity in the judicial system.

The representatives of the NGOs listed a number of topics, ranging from bribery, nepotism and abuse of office in the judicial system, the promotion of judges, the functioning of the High Council of Justice and others.

The topics highlighted by the NGOs will be listed in BIRN Albania’s call for investigative stories in the field of justice.