Category: News and Events

Members of civil society, media, experts and researchers, at a webinar entitled “Rights in the Digital Space 2024”, said internet freedoms are deteriorating at an unprecedented pace in Southeast Europe.

The event was jointly organised by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, ECPMF.

BIRN and ECPMF represented their latest works – BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Report 2023-2024 and ECPMF’s Media Freedom Monitoring Report, as other speakers shared observations on digital rights violations, press freedom and topics such as big tech’s influence on internet freedoms.

“In 2024, BIRN was able to identify more than 1,700 significant digital rights violations [but] these are not all the violations that are happening in the digital space but violations … that are either examples of viral trends, or of something that has a lot of consequences, or something that is an emerging trend,” Ivana Jeremic, Digital Content Lead at BIRN’s Digital Rights Programme, said.

“Discrimination, genocide denial, foreign influences and disinformation are key violations in the region,” Jeremic added. She underlined that the use of artificial intelligence, AI, had caused a major spike in digital violations in 2024.

Usual suspects: Turkey, Serbia and Hungary

Cara Raeker, from ECPMF, said their monitoring recorded 1,548 press freedom violations in 35 European countries, including Southeast Europe.

In Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Turkey, Serbia, Romania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo, “we found 417 cases with 756 people affected. We have found most cases in Turkey, Serbia and Hungary,” Raeker said.

Raeker underlined that online and digital attacks are the most common forms of attacks on press freedom.

Gurkan Ozturan, from ECPMF, who is also Turkey rapporteur for Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net project, said Turkey remains a major violator of digital and internet freedoms.

“Turkey remains still ‘not free’ in the digital space, with continuous restrictions on press and media fields as well as in the field of freedom of expression, access to information and digital privacy,” he said.

He shared examples of internet and digital platform restrictions, the use of draconian laws to censor internet and media as well as major violations of citizens’ online data.

Mila Bajic, from Share Foundation and Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net project, said internet freedoms continue to deteriorate in Serbia as well.

“In 2024, Serbia fell to 70 points [on the Freedom on the Net rankings] which is basically the line between ‘partly free’ and ‘free’, which is the lowest score the country ever got,” Bajic said.

She expected the situation to continue to deteriorate. “We will be falling … under the ‘free’ line and will be chartering into ‘partly free’ territory,” Bajic said.

In a panel on big tech companies, Bojana Kostic, a Human Rights and Tech Researcher, noted an “asymmetry” between big tech and citizens’ rights.

“Incredible power asymmetry will not play out well at the end, to the detriment of freedom of expression and other human rights and all citizens’ wellbeing,” Kostic said.

Journalists among most-targeted groups

Speakers agreed that journalists are among the most-targeted groups online because of their work.

The threats often result in real-life consequences, such as the case of jailed Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli.

Teona Sekhniashvili, Network and Advocacy Officer at the International Press Institute, IPI, said Amaglobeli has been prisoned unjustly.

“A veteran Georgian journalist who has been fighting against injustice and for full press freedom for years … is now unjustly held in pre-detention,” Sekhniashvili said, adding that Amaglobeli was one of the first to stand up against the Georgian government’s notorious foreign agents law.

“The law would basically require NGOs and newsrooms to register as organisations pursuing the interests of foreign power,” Sekhniashvili explained.

Azem Kurtic, Bosnia correspondent of BIRN, said that Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity is another government preparing a similar foreign agents law, at the cost of press freedoms and civil liberties.

“The law gives a lot of legal rights to the Justice Minister [of Republika Srpska] to mark anyone receiving money from abroad as an agent of foreign influence. In the end, they could be banned from existence and from actually conducting their activities,” Kurtic said.

More about digital rights violations in Southeast Europe can be found in BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Report 2023-2024 and in the latest ECPMF Media Freedom Monitoring Report.

The webinar can be watched here:

On February 18, a webinar brought together 44 journalists and media professionals from six Western Balkan countries to gain deeper insights into the state of the digital environment, and equip them with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex and threatening digital landscape.

Cyber Guardian: Journalists’ Digital Resilience is a collaborative initiative between two BIRN projects – Western Balkans Media for Change and Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms.

The online training presented findings on digital threats and attacks while equipping participants with practical tools and strategies to enhance their protection in the digital space.

The online sessions were led by Donika Elshani, a cybersecurity expert and researcher, who presented findings from the research paper, “Navigating the Evolving Threat Landscape and Institutional Responses to Cybersecurity Threats in the Western Balkans”.

This report serves as an expanded addition to BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Annual Report 2023-2024 and provides a comprehensive regional analysis of emerging trends and recurring breaches in the cybersecurity landscape of the Western Balkans.

It highlights critical vulnerabilities in infrastructure and media exposure to cyberattacks, offering a detailed assessment of institutional responses to cybersecurity threats across all Western Balkans countries.

Findings revealed that most states in the region have adopted a reactive rather than proactive approach to cyber threats, often driven by external pressures rather than making genuine, forward-looking efforts.

Progress appears to stem more from the urgency of responding to crises than from careful planning or foresight. The report underscored the need for a multisectoral approach to create a safer digital environment.

The second session was also the final Learning Circle under the Western Balkans Media for Change project. The objective was to enhance participants’ knowledge of digital safety practices – an essential skill in today’s world. The training provided advice on identifying phishing threats, implementing preventive measures, and utilizing practical tools and applications.

Participants were guided on protecting electronic devices, safeguarding against remote intrusions (including hacking, malware, and phishing attacks), and adopting safe internet browsing practices. The session concluded with practical demonstrations, allowing participants to observe real-life examples of cyberattacks and understand their mechanisms firsthand.

This training is part of the Western Balkans Media for Change Project, funded by the UK government and implemented by the British Council in partnership with BIRN, the Thomson Foundation, and INTRAC, as well as part of the Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms project, funded by the EU.

On February 18, BIRN Montenegro launched a new version of its website, birn.me, aiming to meet the needs of a new generation of readers.

The improved portal design allows for easier navigation and access to key information. Thanks to the new homepage structure and section layout, visitors can quickly find content that interests them.

To stay updated with the portal’s content, readers can now subscribe to our newsletter, and will be sent the best stories via email.

“BIRN Montenegro will continue to provide its readers with investigative stories from the country and the region and strengthen collaboration with citizens and various social groups,” BIRN Montenegro editor Samir Kajosevic said.

“The new portal design is another step toward enhancing communication with our audience. As always, we expect readers to actively participate in creating our portal’s content by reporting illegalities and suggesting topics they believe are insufficiently covered in the media,” he added.

Kajosevic noted that BIRN Montenegro will continue to publish monitoring reports of institutions, policies and laws, and provide suggestions for improving laws and policies in the areas it covers.

Applications are invited under this year’s theme, Resilience. An independent committee will select the successful applicants to participate in our annual professional development programme, which provides intensive editorial support and resources to produce a long-form investigative or analytical story for publication by BIRN, its media partners, and regional media outlets.

Our published work includes features, analysis, and investigative reports presented in depth for a global audience. We prioritize strong storytelling and rigorous, on-the-ground reporting, hallmarks of high-quality magazine journalism.

Who Can Apply?

Journalists with demonstrable professional experience from the following countries are eligible:

Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.

Applicants must hold citizenship or permanent residence in one of the eligible countries.

What the Fellowship Offers?

Selected fellows will receive:

• A bursary of €3,000 to support their reporting
• Intensive training and mentoring from world-class editors
• Ongoing editorial and networking support from BIRN’s leading regional journalistic network across 14 countries of the Central and SEE region
• An introductory seminar in Vienna (May 13-17) focused on advanced reporting and storytelling techniques
• Additional awards ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 for the three best stories
• Global and regional publication in English and local languages through BIRN’s media network
• Membership in the Fellowship alumni network, fostering collaboration among journalists since 2007

How to Apply?

The application deadline is March 18. To apply, submit your proposal using the official application form.

To increase your chances of selection, we encourage you to explore more details about the programme, including expert tips from our editors.

Here’s what our editor, Neil Arun, has to say about this year’s theme:

Resilience is a great thing, we are told. Resilient individuals easily bounce back from life’s setbacks. Resilient organisations readily adapt to changing market conditions. Resilient supply chains keep the shelves stocked through wars, trade wars and pandemics. As European societies brace for a seismic jolt from a new political reality, you may want to consider what resilience means in this context. Perhaps your proposed story has protagonists who embody resilience in the face of hard times. Or perhaps your proposal itself embodies that spirit, in seeking to deploy journalism as a tool to address a persistent problem.

There is another way of thinking about resilience as a quality embodied not by principled journalists or activists – the usual “good guys” – but rather, by their adversaries. Seen this way, the new order emerging in Europe is testament to the resilience of the forces that are now in the ascendant. How did they succeed despite so many apparent setbacks? If resilience played a part in their ascent, was it the only factor? Or was their ascent also aided by the lack of resilience, the fragility and rigidity, of the alternatives on offer?

I hope that’s enough to get you thinking and don’t stress if the story you want to pursue for the Fellowship has no obvious link to resilience. It is better to propose a strong story that loosely fits the annual theme rather than pitch a weak story that fits the theme perfectly. The annual theme is, as always, our way of testing your ability to re-mould your proposal. It is a test, in other words, of your resilience. Have fun with it.

About the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence

Since 2007, the Fellowship has provided journalists with funding, mentorship, and editorial guidance to produce agenda-setting investigative stories. Designed to foster a strong and responsible press, the programme has played a vital role in shaping journalistic standards across the region while advancing the careers of its fellows.

Established by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Erste Foundation, the Fellowship originally focused on South-Eastern Europe and expanded in 2020 to include Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

To read past Fellowship stories and learn more about the programme, visit the official Fellowship page.

The event will explore the intersection of digital rights, media freedom and the role of big tech companies in shaping the online environment. By bringing together digital rights experts, researchers and representatives from tech companies, the discussion will focus on the latest findings from key reports published by civil society organisations, the challenges faced by independent media and the influence of big tech on internet freedoms.

Sign up here to attend the webinar.

Date: February 20, 2025

Time: 2 pm (CET)

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with digital rights experts and learn about key trends shaping digital and media landscapes in Europe.

More about digital rights violations in the Balkans can be found in BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Report 2023-2024 and the latest ECPMF’s Media Freedom Monitoring Report.

Agenda

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks
   Time: 5 minutes

• Host: Amina Mahović, Digital Rights Programme Manager, BIRN

2. Keynote Address: Brief overview of BIRN’s Digital Rights Annual Report 2023-2024 and Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net
   Time: 15 minutes

• Ivana Jeremić, Digital Rights Content Lead, BIRN
• Cara Räker, Monitoring Officer, ECPMF

3. Focus Session: State of Digital Rights in Targeted Countries
   Time: 25 minutes

Moderator: Hamdi Firat Buyuk, Turkey Correspondent for Balkan Insight, BIRN

Speakers: Gürkan Özturan, Turkey; Mila Bajić, Serbia; Đurđa Radulović, Montenegro; Bojan Stojkovski, North Macedonia

4. Big Tech’s Influence on Internet Freedom
   Time: 20 minutes

Moderator: Aida Mahmutović, Project Manager, BIRN Kosovo

Speakers: Bojana Kostić, Human Rights and Tech Researcher; Feđa Kulenovic, Information and Communication expert

5. Media Freedom
   Time: 20 minutes

Moderator: Gürkan Özturan, Media Freedom Monitoring Officer, ECPMF

Speakers: Camille Magnissalis, Press Freedom Monitoring and Communications Officer, EFJ; Teona Sekhniashvili, Network & Advocacy Officer, IPI; Azem Kurtić, Correspondent from Bosnia and Herzegovina, BIRN

6. Closing Remarks
   Time: 5 minutes

• Host: Amina Mahovic, Digital Rights Programme Manager, BIRN

Gentiana is a human rights activist and capacity-building expert for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with experience in project cycle management, a background in Economics, and extensive training in gender equality, among other related fields.

No wonder her passion for human rights and strong civil society have led her to BIRN.

“I believe access to rights, reliable information and civic engagement empowers individuals to drive real change, while BIRN’s commitment to transparency and accountability and public participation are values I share deeply,” she says.

“I dedicated over 15 years of my career to human rights activism, fundraising and strengthening civil society across the Western Balkans, and throughout this journey I’ve learned firsthand how to build resilient organizations and achieve lasting impact.

“I’m thrilled and excited to work alongside BIRN’s team and diverse stakeholders, bringing people together to shape strategies and develop impactful initiatives that empower independent media and civil society, contributing to a more transparent and accountable region and ultimately driving positive change,” she adds.

Now, as Head of Programmes, her key responsibilities include setting programme goals aligned with BIRN’s strategic objectives and overseeing their implementation.

She works closely with Programme Managers, providing guidance and problem-solving support and ensuring smooth coordination between programme, editorial, operations and finance teams.

These are all very important tasks because BIRN Hub has four core programmes. Gentiana explains how those programmes contribute to the overall strategy of the organisation.

“BIRN’s programmes strengthen independent journalism, hold power to account, and promote transparency and democracy in Southeast Europe,” she says.

• Capacity Building and Strengthening of Independent Media: This programme focuses on enhancing journalistic skills and media sustainability by bridging gaps in education and professional development. It provides mentorship and training and promotes innovative approaches such as engagement journalism. BIRN serves as an intermediary between large media development organisations and local outlets, offering direct support through sub-grants and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen independent media across the region.
• Transitional Justice Initiative: The Transitional Justice Initiative is a cornerstone of BIRN’s work, taking a regional approach to addressing war crime denial, relativization, impunity and conflicting narratives. Through investigative journalism, legal accountability efforts and public awareness initiatives, the programme aims to foster reconciliation and advance justice. A key component is the preservation of data and archival materials, ensuring that documented evidence and testimonies remain accessible for future generations, strengthening collective memory and historical accountability.
• Investigative Reporting Initiative: This flagship programme uncovers corruption, public spending fraud, environmental crimes, human rights violations and organised crime, among others. BIRN produces in-depth investigations with compelling storytelling, trains journalists through the BIRN’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting for 15 years and BIRN’s Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence for almost 20 years, and collaborates with universities to develop investigative journalism curricula.
• Reporting and Monitoring Human Rights and Freedoms: This relatively new programme grows together with the increase of human rights violations in the online sphere. It focuses on monitoring digital rights violations, misinformation, and online abuse, providing training for journalists, compiling annual Digital Rights Violations Reports, and engaging with policymakers to advocate for stronger protections of digital freedoms and media rights.

Gentiana also focuses on risk management, reporting and impact assessment, including developing monitoring and evaluation tools. Her responsibilities here include strengthening BIRN’s visibility, building partnerships and enhancing interdepartmental cooperation.

Additionally, she ensures compliance with policies, supports staff capacity building, and contributes to budget planning to drive BIRN’s mission and long-term sustainability.

But what does her typical working day look like?

“As the Head of Programmes at BIRN, a typical working day is dynamic and involves overseeing multiple responsibilities across various programmes and spending a significant part of the day in meetings. Morning (or sometimes a whole day 🙂) starts with briefings and prioritizations, meaning reviewing emails, requests and updates from Programme Managers, followed by prioritizing tasks based on deadlines, ongoing projects and any emerging issues.

“I check in with team members to track the progress of ongoing activities, address any challenges, and ensure alignment with BIRN’s strategic objectives. We discuss timelines, goals, and any adjustments needed to stay on track,” she says.

After that, she usually reviews project reports, ensuring they meet donor requirements and reflect the impact of BIRN’s work.

“During the day, I participate in strategic planning, working with the team to resolve issues related to resource allocation, risks or changes in direction. I also engage with external partners like media organisations, donors and stakeholders. I work with the Operations Department on budget allocation and resource use,” she explains.

“A key part of my role is ensuring that the Programme Managers and other team members have the tools and support they need to succeed. This includes providing guidance on project management, facilitating professional development, and mentoring staff to enhance their skills.

“Every day brings new challenges but the goal is always the same: ensuring the success and impact of BIRN’s programmes. And yes, I rely on a lot of coffee to keep up with the fast pace! 🙂” she says.

As in every job, there are favourite – and least favourite – parts of being a Head of Programmes for Gentiana.

“My absolute favorite part is planning—I’m obsessed with it! I firmly believe that a well-structured plan is half the work done. On the other hand, my least favorite part is when time constraints don’t allow me to plan as thoroughly as I’d like! Hahaha. 🙂

“But seriously, one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is working with an incredible team. You might wonder how, given that we are a large group with diverse personalities, experiences, backgrounds and expectations. Yes, it can be challenging, but I’m an eternal optimist who finds inspiration in every small step our team takes forward.

“Since we spend so much time at work, I believe we have a unique opportunity to learn from, support, and inspire each other every day. And when challenges arise, we step away from our laptops, grab a coffee, and let a good conversation spark fresh ideas!” she concludes.

On January 27, journalists from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina attended an online fact-checking training session, which focused on practical demonstrations of tools that journalists can use to produce fact-checked content.

Participants were introduced to journalistic verification tools, including crowd counting with Mapchecking, face recognition with Pimeyes, and email verification with Hunter.io. They also learned about tools for photograph and time verification, such as TinEye, RevEye, Yandex and Suncalc. Trainers demonstrated how to apply these tools in content production, enabling journalists to use them immediately after the training.

The session also featured a presentation of BIRD, a digital platform developed by BIRN that serves as an investigative tool and facilitates experience and document sharing among investigative journalists. This innovative interactive platform is designed for journalists who want to stay current with rapidly evolving technology while maintaining ethical standards and professional journalism practices. Participants were introduced to the BIRD Directory, which is a database of expert contacts across various fields from the six Western Balkan countries.

The online training was conducted by Ivana Jeremic and Kreshnik Gashi. Jeremic is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in digital rights, organised crime investigations, public fund misuse and AI impact. She has served as a fact-checker at OCCRP since 2013 and as an External Assessor at the International Fact-Checking Network since 2017. Her awards include the European Press Prize, the Anthony Lewis Prize and the Balkan Fact-checking Award.

Kreshnik Gashi, editor-in-chief of KALLXO.com, is a law graduate who has won over 20 journalistic prizes for his in-depth corruption investigations. Since joining BIRN in 2012, he has produced more than 300 investigative TV programmes and about 1,000 investigative articles. His work has led to significant outcomes, including the arrest and charging of over 10 prosecutors and judges, the arrest of more than 30 police officers, and 10 corruption indictments against public officials, including ministers and mayors.

This training is part of the Western Balkans Media for Change Project, funded by the UK government and implemented by the British Council in partnership with BIRN, the Thomson Foundation, and INTRAC. The project supports media outlets and individual journalists throughout the Western Balkans.