Category: News and Events

BIRN BiH visits Der Erste Stiftung

BIRN – Justice Report journalist Denis Dzidic visited the offices of the foundation Der Erste Stiftung in Vienna as part of a journalist exchange program which the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is implementing with Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

Dzidic visited Vienna between from July 26-29 where he met representatives of the Der Erste organization who introduced him to their educational projects in central and south-eastern Europe.

The exchange program started in April of this year, organized by Der Erste
Stiftung, and will include journalists from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. One will travel to Vienna each month.

Dzidic also held meetings with representatives of associations of Bosnian citizens in Austria including the Center for Contemporary Initiatives in Linz, and the Association of Bosnian Authors of Upper Austria.

He also met with the BiH ambassador to Austria, Haris Hrle, and representatives of the Austrian  ministry of internal affairs, with whom he talked about migration processes from BiH to Austria.

Life in Kosovo Debates the Issue of Headscarves in Public Schools

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo discusses the issue of wearing headscarves in public institutions.

 

Who is worried by the use of headscarves? What are the administrative orders regarding headscarves based on? Does anyone encourage women to wear the veil? Does the ban on headscarves in public schools violate human rights?

To discuss this issue, Edona Musa has the following guests in the studio:

Besa Ismaili – Ahmeti,
Fehmije Gashi – Bytyçi,
Zana Beqiri and
Xheraldina Pufja – Rexhepi.

Life in Kosovo will then broadcast Jeta Xharra’s interview with Noel Malcolm, one of the most renowned British historians and writers, also author of Kosovo: A Short History, a book that enlightened the global public on the circumstances that led to the Kosovo conflict. Malcolm talks about the history of Kosovo and the identity problems in the region.

BIRN then broadcasts a reportage from the researcher Faton Adem on the lack of standardisation of court certificates in Kosovo.

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20

Summer School Application Close on August 9th

Places are still available for the BIRN summer school for an all-inclusive course fee of €549, which covers tuition, accommodation, meals and activities. However, the August 9th deadline is approaching fast, so please submit your application without delay.

BIRN’s summer school includes a range of specialist programmes, exercises and round-tables covering the changing face of Balkan media ownership, violence against media professionals, and more. Internationally famous journalists, trainers and presenters Don Ray, Mark Hunter, Luuk Sengers, Gavin Rees, Milorad Ivanovic, Manuela Mareso and the OCCRP training team with Drew Sullivan, Rosemary Armao and Paul Radu make up the training team along with BIRN’s in-house experts.

 

The programme is intensive but there will also be some time to tour the beautiful orchards, vineyards, monasteries and forests of the nearby Fruska Gora National Park, with visits scheduled to the Grgeteg, Hopovo and Krusedol monasteries in Fruska Gora, wine tasting in a 300-year-old wine cellar, and honey tasting in the Museum of Honey.

For full details of the programme and to submit your application go to https://birn.eu.com/en/1/340/28746/

Life in Kosovo discusses the advisory opinion of the ICJ Tonight

Life in Kosovo will hold a live discussion on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s independence.

What is the ICJ’s opinion? How will this reflect on recognitions of the state of Kosovo? Does the Kosovo side have a strategy for the future? What do the local political parties and civil society say? What are the first
impressions?

To discuss these topics, live on air, Muhamet Hajrullahu will be joined in the studio by:

Jakup Krasniqi – Head of the Assembly of Kosovo
Arsim Bajrami – Professor of Constitutional Law
Blerim Shala – Vice-president of AAK
Haki Abazi – Rockefeller Brothers Foundation

Following this, Life in Kosovo will broadcast an interview with Ivan Vejvoda, a civil society member with a strong influence on the Serb opinion.

The journalist Alban Selimi has prepared an investigative report into suspicious medicine sold in Kosovo. How did Kosovar children consume 10 thousand doses of paracetamol without active substances?

How did the Ministry of Health buy this paracetamol? Who should be held accountable, or are the Ministry officials above the law in this case? Researcher Faton Ademi talks about the sewage that flooded a neighbourhood in Mitrovica.

 

 

Free Places for Balkan Journalists Still Available

Journalists from South East Europe still have time to apply for full scholarship to attend BIRN’s unique Summer School of Investigative Reporting from August 22 to 28 within the Petrovaradin Fortress, in the stunning Fruska Gora National Park.

The deadline to apply for a full scholarship is July 25, while those paying the full course fee have until August 9 to sign up. The course fee of €549 and is all-inclusive, covering tuition, accommodation, meals and extra-curricular tours.

BIRN is looking for mid-career journalists from the Balkans to apply for the scholarship..

BIRN is gathering leading journalists and trainers, both from the Balkans and internationally to provide informative, insightful and entertaining training focused on investigative, computer-assisted and organised crime and corruption journalism, in print and broadcast media.

Confirmed speakers include renowned trainers and presenters Don Ray, Mark Hunter, Luuk Sengers, Gavin Rees, Milorad Ivanovic, Maunela Mareso and the OCCRP training team with Drew Sullivan, Rosemary Armao and Paul Radu.

The summer school will offer a full programme including exercises and round-tables on the changing face of Balkan media ownership, violence against media professionals, and more.
All applicants selected to attend the Summer School will get BIRN’s newly published textbook “Digging Deeper: A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans” free of charge.

There will also be time to tour the beautiful orchards, vineyards, monasteries and forests in the Fruska Gora National Park.

Finally, all participants will receive a BIRN Summer School certificate.

BIRN will provide all necessary documentation and assistance for applicants that required visas or travel documents.

Public Vote Health as Top Priority at “Skockajte Budzet” Event

The Serbian Health Ministry was once again allocated the largest share from state coffers – 10.54 per cent – during a street event where citizens voted to show their priorities for public expenditure.

The event, which brough together more than 100 people in front of the building of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce on July 16th, was the fourth street event organised by BIRN Serbia and its partner organisation Pro Concept as part of the “Skockajte Budzet” campaign which is aimed at bringing the general public into the  process of planning the state budget.
<!** Image 4 align=”right” alt=”Image 13398″ sub=”Citizens had decided” >
The peope had the chance to allocate the 2010 state budget of 656 billion dinars according to their priorities by placing ‘money’ in ballot boxes representing the 25 government ministries.

Following on from the Health Ministry, were the the Ministry for Science and Technology – om 9.45 per cent – and the Education Ministry – 9.35 per cent. At the oth3er end of the scale were the Minister without Portfolio, the Ministry for the Diaspora and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

A similar street event  on May 15th, held in front of the Terazije fountain in Belgrade also allocated  the largest share of budget funds to the country’s Health Ministry.

At the July 16th event, Milan Jankovic, President of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, pledged support for serious and long-term budget planning. He noted that planning should be transparent and that raising awareness among the public that money in the state budget is ‘common money’ could only help the cause.

The “Skockajte budzet” campaign is part of the larger project “Eye on Public Finances” which was launched in late 2009 by BIRN Serbia and Pro Concept. The aim of the programme is to broaden the understanding of and discussion on budget issues among MPs, National Assembly staff, media representatives and CSO’s, and to increase the public demand for transparency and accountability.

Third Make Your Own Budget Event

Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development has got the largest amount from the state coffer – 9.2 per cent – during a street event aimed to include citizens in the process of planning the Serbian budget by giving them a chance to show which sectors they consider as priorities in planning public expenditures.

The event, which gathered citizens in front of the municipality building in New Belgrade on July 7th, was organised by BIRN Serbia and its partner organisation Pro Concept as part of the “Skockajte Budzet” campaign.

Citizens were constructing the budget of 656 billion dinars, which is the total ammount of the state budget for 2010, by placing money in 25 boxes (symbolizing the number of ministries).
<!** Image 4 align=”left” alt=”Image 13273″ sub=”Action for the future” >
The Ministry of Economy and Regional Development is followed by Ministry of Health which got 8.7 per cent and Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning – 8.2 per cent whereas the lowest amount from the state coffer has been given to the Minister without Portfolio, Ministry for Diaspora and the country’s Foreign Ministry.

Milos Petrovic, vice president of New Belgrade municipality said that the goal of this action was to see the citizens’ preferences in terms of making the state budget.  

“I am glad that the New Belgrade municipality is the first to join this action as this promotes the active participation of citizens in the process of forming the budget,” Petrovic said.

Such street events will be held in other municipalities in the country in the forthcoming months.

“Skockajte budzet” campaign is part of the larger project “Eye on Public Finances” which was launched in late 2009 by BIRN Serbia and Pro Concept. The aim of the programme is to broaden the understanding and discussion on budget issues among MPs, NA staff, media representatives and CSO’s, as well as to increase the public demand for transparency and accountability.

Life in Kosovo to examine regional cooperation

This Thursday on Life in Kosovo you will follow the debate on the importance of regional cooperation, politically and economically.

The debate will cover different aspects of regional cooperation as free movement, free circulation of goods and the CEFTA free trade agreement.

What are the challenges and problems Kosovo is facing regarding regional cooperation? What more could Kosovo have done regarding regional cooperation and what hasn’t it done? Why does UNMIK still represent Kosovo in regional meetings?

To discuss these and other issues concerning regional cooperation in the studio with Muhamet Hajrullahu will there be officials of the government, representatives of the opposition, representatives of the civil society and experts in the field of European integration.

 

They are:

 

Lirak Çelaj- National Government Coordinator for regional cooperation.
Shenoll Muharremi- Expert of European Integration
Mimoza Kusari-Lila- Vice President of AKR and expert of economy
Ylli Hoxha- Executive Director- Club for Foreign Affairs.

In addition, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu has looked into the IPA funds for Kosovo.

 

How many millions of Euros have entered Kosovo through these funds? Also, how did the project for the renovation of the Palace of Youth in Prishtina from the IPA funds fail.

In the part Justice in Kosovo, Genc Nimoni covers the process of work permissions for attorneys.

 

Do attorneys have work permission, how do they receive them, should they have them and what are the municipality authorities doing about it?

The highlight of the week is the placement of the projector in the center of the city of Skendaj to view the matches of the World Cup in football.

 

Faton Ademi has been there and will convey the atmosphere of the fans in Skenderaj.

 

 

Alumni Initiative Stories to be Launched

The need for more intensive cooperation among ex-fellows has been recognized, as a result of which the alumni network was established. This network will take on two specific lines of activity: biannual meetings of editors and ex-fellows, and production of joint stories.

Within the alumni network, ex-fellows are encouraged to work together on jointly produced stories that will be promoted on Balkaninsight.com and on the Fellowship website. Alumni fellows may pursue two types of stories: regional stories, which can be produced by teams of several people and tackle issues of importance to the Balkan region; individual stories written along the lines of the analytical pieces regularly published in Balkan Insight. The stories will be selected by the BIRN team according to the following criteria: regional relevance; feasibility; originality; journalistic approach.

 

BIRN will use its own resources and wide network of partner organizations to promote the alumni network and the stories produced within this initiative. Alumni stories will be offered to other media outlets across the region for republication.

 

So far, media outlets have proven highly responsive to stories produced as part of the Fellowship programme. Last year Fellowship stories were republished more than 150 times in the local media alone. BIRN is hoping to accomplish the same level of outreach with the alumni stories and a promotional campaign will be organised to help us meet that goal.