Category: News and Events

Getting the Message Out

With final proofing and preparation for
publication in progress, some of the editorial team met last week to
discuss this year’s achievements and to look at the editorial
process and importantly to ensure that the articles from this year
receive the widest possible republication and syndication ahead of
the book launches planned for December.

They were joined by Gjerg Erebara one
of last year’s fellows, who like many former fellows has stayed in
touch with BIRN and become a regular contributor to BIRN’s Balkan
Insight online news website (www.balkaninsight.com).
Gjerg was full of praise for the programme, saying that it was an
opportunity for national journalists to “look through a window at
the wider world” and put national events in an international
framework.

One of the bugbears of the programme
every year is the editing process. Even in these technologically
advanced days getting geographically spread individuals together to
collaborate can be a difficult process.

Milos Milosavljevic, BIRN’s Director
of Online Projects took the editors though some new online
collaborative tools that will undoubtedly make things run more
smoothly next year.

The team then discussed plans for
regional re-publishing of this year’s articles. And, less than a
week after the first article was posted and with more than 100
republications of the six articles published to date in some of the
most prominent newspapers and weekly’s in the region, as well as in
international press, they seem to have made a pretty good job of
getting the pieces out to a wider audience.

One online publication is complete, the
articles will be collated and put together in a 250 page book, which
is due for promotional launches in each of the capital cities of the
region during December.

The book launches are a great
opportunity to celebrate and publicise this year’s achievements but
importantly to talk to potential candidates for next year’s
fellowship programme.

Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change

A roundtable discussion was held on the September, 18, 2009, to discuss the issue of climate change. Particular focus was made on understanding the position of Kosovo with regards to climate change as well as possible options available to Kosovo at the 15th Conference of the Parties Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark. Focus for this roundtable discussion was on a recent research paper produced on climate change and the upcoming climate change conference this December. The paper was produced by Nils Pfeiffer, researcher with BIRN.

The roundtable discussion was moderated by Jeta Xharra, BIRN´s director. The participants were:

Lisa Mattsson – Programme Specialist on Environment, United Nations Development Program

Muhamet Malsiu – Director of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning

Lorik Haxhiu – Project Manager hired by World Bank for Kosova e Re power plant

Ferdinand Nikolla – Executive Director of Forum for Civic Initiatives, FIQ

Shqipe Neziri – Representative from the Regional Environment, REC Center for Central and Eastern Europe

Jeta Xharra – BIRN Kosovo Director

Pfeiffer opened the roundtable by giving a brief introduction to the vital importance of getting Kosovo engaged with the international community on climate change and where it fits in on this issue. Pfeiffer explained the reasons behind the Copenhagen conference in December – replacing the ailing Kyoto Protocol with a new comprehensive protocol that seeks to enhance action on climate change from 2012. The potential opportunities open to Kosovo at the Copenhagen conference were also explained.

The participants discussed Kosovo’s options to reduce CO2 and other green house gas emissions (that lead to global warming), which are mainly emitted from Kosovo´s lignite power plants, but also from cars and as a result of deforestation. Technologies such as carbon capture and storage, cogeneration, and voluntary carbon emissions trading would provide ways in which Kosovo could in the future work towards reducing CO2 and GHG emissions.

The participants stressed the current lack of awareness, political will, financial resources and human capacity to effectively do anything about climate change. These would need to improve for action to be successful. But participants acknowledged that environmental NGOs, the media and donor organisations, such as UNDP, could help to push Kosovo to act.

All participants agreed to the importance for Kosovo to become engaged on climate change. There was also consensus that the upcoming climate change conference offers a great opportunity for Kosovo.

The research was supported by Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

BIRN – Justice Report cited in Amnesty International Report

Several articles written by Justice Report journalists have been cited in the latest Amnesty International Report, “Whose Justice? Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Women Still Waiting“.

The Report is the product of year-long research conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It addresses the difficult position of women who were raped during the past war, and their dissatisfaction with the poor treatment they receive from Bosnian authorities.

Amnesty International, AI, quoted BIRN – Justice Report articles on rape trials conducted behind closed door before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its coverage of agreements signed between the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and war-crimes indictees.

AI is a global movement with more than two million members, which currently leads campaigns to end grave violations of human rights in more than fifteen countries.

BIRN – Justice Report is an agency specialized in reporting on trials conducted before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and covering issues related to transitional justice and facing the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

More about report: Amnesty International: Suffering in Silence

Life in Kosovo celebrates its fourth anniversary

BIRN Kosovo’s weekly show Life in Kosovo (Jeta ne Kosove) celebrated its fourth anniversary last Friday at a gala held at Pristina’s National Museum.

Hundreds of guests gathered for the event during which Jeta Xharra, the director of BIRN Kosovo, presented certificates to the mayors involved in the pre and post election debates of 2007.

Life in Kosovo has broadcasted 267 TV debates accompanied by in-depth TV reports on RTK, Kosovo’s public sector broadcaster, tackling political, economic, social, and minority issues. The show is watched by 350,000 viewers on average each week and is well respected for its ground-breaking investigations.

EU special representative Pieter Feith, addressing the audience, praised the show Life in Kosovo and its staff.

“Your progammes are inquisitive. You put your opponents on the back foot. You make sure that your interviewees are saying the wrong things, and the programmes are always interesting to watch,” he said.

Kosovo parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi also presented his views on the show. He told guests: “Jeta [Xharra] and her shows are not always pleasant. They are bitter too. Kosovo has gone through a difficult time and now it’s the time when Kosovo should have free speech and a free media. I wish Life in Kosovo the best of luck and success.”

American Ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell said: “I would urge you to take the courage in your strength as journalists to understand the power you yield, not just to inform but to focus the public discourse. I ask you to pay attention to your serious responsibilities that are accompanied with great power, responsibilities to serve your country and your communities.”

The current affairs show includes field reports, direct questioning of key decision-makers and studio debates. It covers the most important political and social issues unfolding on a weekly basis in Kosovo.

The programme has scrutinised the activities of the government, the legislative process in Kosovo’s parliament, issues relating to Kosovo’s non-Albanian communities, the economy, property rights, human rights and decentralisation.

Guests at the anniversary event included municipal leaders, government officials, opposition figures, civil society, local media and representatives of the international community.

Jeta Xharra, the anchor and editor of the program, explained that it has been an incredible journey to get to here.

“The municipal election debates have been the most rewarding programmes because of the incredible audience we had in the town halls participating in the debates, as well as those watching us on TV. It is especially encouraging to receive the amount of feedback and questions we are getting from members of the public for the debates on this year’s local elections which are due on November 15,” said Xharra.

“We couldn’t have got to where we are today without the help of our friends. One of the best friends we are lucky to have is Agim Zatriqi, [RTK General Director] who has been the strongest supporter of “Jeta ne Kosove”. He did not buckle under a lot of pressure to bump the show off air, and for this we will be eternally grateful to him,” said Xharra.

She added: “The only sour note to this celebration has been the news that Agim has just resigned.”

Top Award for BIRN Albania Editor

At the CEI Journalist forum. held in Warsaw on September 24th, Besar Likmeta, BIRN’s Albania Editor, received the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism.

The award was presented by Central European Initiative Secretary General Amb. Pietro Ercole Ago and South East Europe Media Organization Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

The Jury composed of prominent journalists, correspondents and editors from across Europe, examined a total of 26 nominations from 12 CEI Member States.

The jury took into account the personal risks taken in uncovering stories, the quality of reporting and the impact on society of the message conveyed, when making their decision and unanimously decided that the Award should go to Likmeta.

With this selection, the Jury said that they intended to “promote the good investigative journalism carried out by a very young journalist and, more in general, to convey a signal of support to the development of investigative journalism in Albania, which is particularly significant for this country”.

Fellowship Articles Submitted – Editing Underway

The Ten fellows taking part in the 2009 Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme, submitted their in-depth reports on August 31. Their reports were produced as a result of research and travel across both the Balkans and the EU during previous 4 months.

This year, their reports address the topic – Identity – from different angles, looking at the Balkan’s criminal, social, economic, cultural and religious landscape, examining the new role of woman in economic migration, the phenomenon of mixed marriages in post-conflict societies, the devastating consequences of on-going repatriation programmes, disputes between various national and religious groups as well as prevailing attitudes toward the LGBT community.  
 
Read the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence web site to find updates from the fellows written during the research period, that are offer interesting insightson their travels and their articles that are about to be published on BIRN’s on line publication, Balkan Insight and in a special hard-copy publication which will be launched at a special promotional gatherings throughout the region. Each year, the reports are also  syndicated to the local and international media.
 
The reports will be edited by BIRN’s experienced editorial team, and will be officially presented on November 27th to the Selection Committee, which will award bursaries of € 4,000, € 3,000 and € 1,000 to the authors of the three winning articles.

The Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence is an initiative of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the ERSTE Foundation, in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

BIRN Regional Conference Begins

Regional Conference on “Transparency of Courts and Responsibility of the Media” begins in Sarajevo.

A Regional Conference on “Transparency of Courts and Responsibility of the Media” has started in Sarajevo. The Conference is being organized by the Balkans Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, – Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the three-day event, from September 1 to September 3, 2009, participants will explore ways of bridging the gap between judicial institutions, local authorities
and the media in the Western Balkans region.

“Our intention is to open a dialogue on the importance of responsible, timely and objective information sharing on war-crimes trials and the need for transparency of the judicial institutions before which these trials are conducted. Both things are important for regaining the trust of the public in the region for the judicial system and enabling people who have been victims of the gravest violations of human rights to start believing in justice,” Nidzara Ahmetasevic, BIRN – Justice Report Editor, said in her introductory speech.

On the first day of the Conference representatives of judicial institutions from the region discussed their experiences in long-standing work with the media, as well as their future plans for increasing transparency.

The first official from the judiciary to address the Conference was John Hocking of the Registrar’s Office with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, who reminded participants that the transparency of the ICTY’s work has been a significant part of its legacy, adding that the Tribunal has for years sought to explain its work to “the community which it serves”.

Meddzida Kreso, President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that from the beginning of its work the Court has been aware of the role of the media and the influence it has on public opinion, adding that the Court therefore decided to “open its courtrooms” immediately. She stated that the media had made “good progress” in terms of war-crimes reporting.

“We must secure good work conditions for the media. We find it important for Bosnian citizens to know what is happening in the State Court’s courtrooms. Our citizens have the right to know the truth. We respect their right. Our trials are public and the media are welcome to be there,” Kreso said, also recommending that other courts in the country “start opening their courtrooms” to the public.

Chief State Prosecutor Milorad Barasin was among the speakers. He reminded Conference participants that it is very important for “the victims to see justice being implemented in practice”. Sinisa Vazic, President of the War Crimes Council of Serbia, stated that the interests of the public and the protection of the criminal proceedings had to be taken into consideration when reporting from courtrooms.
 
“The relation between the judiciary and the media is an issue that is often put aside. This particularly refers to the influence of the media. The media have multiple roles, starting from the positive role of protecting and communicating information, to a potentially negative role of abusing the judiciary for reasons of media interest or in the interest of powerful groups,” said Branko Hrvatin, President of the Supreme Court of Croatia.

On the second day of the Conference, September 2, editors from media outlets in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, representatives of non-governmental organizations and spokespersons of judicial institutions will discuss the responsibility and reliability of the media in court reporting and the importance of war-crimes reporting. Round table on media freedoms was held with Viktor Ivancic from Croatia, Petar Lukovic from Serbia, Vildana Selimbegovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ana Petruseva, BIRN regional editor from Macedonia.

Life in Kosovo discusses the Roma community in Kosovo

This Thursday Life in Kosovo will broadcast a discussion on the much rewarded and debated movie “The Shutka Book of Records,” as well as a debate on the Roma community living in Kosovo.

In the course of the show, BIRN will also broadcast the movie “The Shutka Book of Records” and will afterwards debate on how the movie portrays Shutka and Roma people.
 
Why was this movie so vehemently opposed by the Roma community? Why does the image of Roma people in the movie continue to denigrate the entire community? How much do these movies contribute in the shaping of prejudices towards this community?  
 
To discuss these issues Jeta Xhara’s guests in the studio will be: 
 
Shpresa Agushi, from the Organisation of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women 
Enver Petrovci, director and playwright,
Kujtim Paçaku, publicist;
Nexhip Menekshe, playwright 
 
In the course of the show, BIRN will also broadcast a “Week’s Highlight” report, prepared by BIRN journalist, Jeta Abazi, who brings the director of the movie “One sun, one nation,” Sami Mustafa that is also the organizer of the Roma film festival in Kosovo, scheduled for October.

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.

Life in Kosovo debates preparations for 2009 elections

Thursday’s Life in Kosovo discusses the local elections scheduled for November 2009.

How are the preparations for the 2009 elections progressing? What have we learnt from elections in 2007? Who will count votes this time? What is happening with the possibility of camera surveillance?

To discuss these and others related to organising and managing the 2009 local elections, the following will join Muhamet Hajrullahu in the studio:

Nesrin Lushta, head of the Central Elections Comission, CEC ;
Mazllum Baraliu, legal expert and the former head of the CEC Secretariat;
Ibrahim Makolli, vice head of the New Kosovo Alliance, AKR ;
Leon Malazogu, analyst and the former leader of the Democracy in Action
coalition who monitored the 2007 elections;
Burim Ramadani, secretary of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK

BIRN will also broadcast an exclusive interview with the President of the
Republic of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu, about this year’s local elections.

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.

Conference on Court Transparency and Media Responsibility

The BIRN Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina is organizing a Regional Conference on “Transparency of Courts and Media Responsibility”, in Sarajevo from September 1 to September 3, 2009. 

The conference will explore ways of bridging the gap between judicial institutions, local authorities and the media in the Western Balkans by sharing best practice. Conference participants will discuss judicial transparency and timely, objective and reliable reporting on crimes committed during the conflicts of the 1990s, as well as the institutions and mechanisms for dealing with these crimes. 

The Conference will utilize the expertise of international war-crimes experts, legal experts, and journalists who specialize in war-crimes reporting.

More than 60 people from the region, as well as representatives from the Hague Tribunal and international non-governmental organizations and media have already confirmed their participation in the conference. 

As part of the event a thematic evening on “Limits of Freedom of Speech” will be convened. Discussion will focus on the role of the media in war reporting and in reporting crimes. 

On the final day, September 3, a workshop will be organized for media representatives, on court reporting and respecting professional standards and the law on free access to information. 

Since 2004 BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina has been one of the key actors in bringing justice closer to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. For five years now its highly acclaimed Justice Report news agency has provided daily coverage of war-crimes trials and transitional justice issues.

BIRN is the only organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina which has provided a daily record of testimony and trials before the State Court of BiH War Crimes Chamber since the Chamber was established.