Category: News and Events

BIRN Hosts Series of Events in Sarajevo

BIRN Open House is a series of events in Sarajevo hosted by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, focusing on issues such as media freedom, justice, accountability, memory and digital rights.

The events will take place in the venue that next year will become the Reporters’ House – a space that will host BIRN’s museum dedicated to media and journalists, the war in the former Yugoslavia, and challenges to contemporary journalism.

Even though the venue is being renovated, we want to open it to the public temporarily, in the hope that BIRN Open House will become an annual series of events at our new museum from next year.

As we work across Southern and Eastern Europe, and due to the global pandemic, we cannot bring all of our participants to Sarajevo, so a limited number of the week’s events will be held online.

First day: Tuesday 14 December

18:00 Offline: Opening programme – Last Despatches: exhibition and launch of a new book published by BIRN that profiles some of the journalists killed during the wars in Yugoslavia. The exhibition is a follow-up to our multimedia project last-despatches.balkaninsight.com, which inspired us to create the Reporters’ House.

The exhibition will be otherwise open to the public without RSVP from December 14 to December 19, from 12:00 to 20:00 at Ferhadija Street 10.

Second day: Wednesday 15 December

15:00 Online: Platform B discussion: Chinese Investments in the Balkans: Transparency Locked. Presentation of our database that mapped the Chinese investments in the region, including more than 100 projects in infrastructure, technology and culture. Read more.

18:00 Offline: Presentation of the EU Award for Investigative Journalism followed by a panel discussion “Investigative journalism and challenges of COVID-19 pandemic”.

Third day: Thursday 16 December

11:00 – 11:45 Offline: BIRN Annual Regional Digital Rights Report: Misinformation, Denial and Threats.

12:00 – 12:45 Offline: Discussion: The Far Right, Violence and Misinformation.

Fourth day: Friday 17 December

10:00 – 13:30 Offline: Meeting: Online Content Removal and Blocking.

18:00 – 21:00 Offline: Screening of the documentary ‘Journalism is Not a Crime’.

Fifth day: Saturday 18 December

18:00 Offline: Book launch and discussion: Poems, stories and dealing with the past.

Sixth day: Sunday 19 December

18:00 Offline: Discussion: Remembering Srebrenica through journalism, oral history and activism.

Seventh day: Monday 20 December

11:00 Offline: Panel discussion and brunch: Female Empowerment Online: Practices and Challenges.

Eight day: Wednesday 22 December

15:00 – 17:00 Online: Presentation of a report on conflict prevention in collaboration with Impunity Watch.

 

 

Platform B: China in the Balkans – Transparency Locked

Event series by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and partners

Together with our partners, BIRN is launching a series of online and offline events aimed to amplify the voices of strong and credible individuals and organisations in the region that promote the core values of democracy, such as civic engagement, independent institutions, transparency and rule of law.

As a primarily media organisation, we want to open space and provide a platform to discuss and reshape our alliances in light of the challenges facing democracies in South-East and Central Europe.

This effort comes at a critical time when the region is seeing several troubling trends: centralized power, reduced transparency, assaults on media, politicized judiciaries, unchecked corruption, online violations and social polarization – all amidst heightened geopolitical tensions and deep divisions in Europe.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Platform B event series will be organised in accordance with all relevant health measures. As the situation improves, we hope to be able to host some of the events in BIRN spaces in Sarajevo and Belgrade, and elsewhere in the region.

The Platform B will be an opportunity for individuals and groups to meet monthly on selected topics.

Next event: China in the Balkans – Transparency Locked

Date: December 15, 2021 (Wednesday)

Time: 3pm-4.30pm, CET

In the last decade, the entire SEE region has seen Chinese influence grow, mostly through the Belt and Road Initiative, BRI.  China is a relatively new player in the region, and it has raised some concerns related to the environment, political influence, corruption, and economics. While investments are growing, access to contracts and other data is often difficult, if not impossible to find.

In a bid to bring more information to these discussions and to shed light on the Chinese presence in the Western Balkans and Greece, BIRN is launching its interactive map ‘China in the Balkans.’ A result of BIRN’s research into the different cooperations between Beijing and countries in the region, the map tracks around 130 Chinese-linked projects, including foreign direct investments, but also those focused on infrastructure, culture, technology media and donations sent during the COVID-19 crisis.

Together with our journalists who worked on the project and regional and international experts, we will reflect on the findings of BIRN’s year-and-a-half-long research and discuss the implications of this Chinese presence in a broader geopolitical context.

Panelists inclide:

  • Ivana Jeremic, Balkan Insight editor & journalist working on Chinese activities in Serbia
  • Bojan Stojkovski, journalist covering Chinese activities in North Macedonia
  • Samir Kajosevic, Balkan Insight correspondent for Montenegro & journalist covering Chinese activities in the country
  • Irvin Pekmez, BIRN BiH journalist, who covered Chinese activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Plamen Tonchev, MERICS European China Policy Fellow & Head of Asia Unit Institute of International Economic Relations (IIER).
  • Ana Krstinovska, a Skopje-based China expert and founder of the research and consultancy services organisation ESTIMA.

Other panelists – regional and international experts – are to be announced in the coming days.

Moderator: Ivan Angelovski, BIRN investigations editor

Registration

This online event is part of BIRN Open House – a series of events hosted by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Sarajevo that aim to foster debate about key thematic areas we usually follow through our journalism, but now we want to talk with you about media freedom, justice, accountability, memory, digital rights and many other things. The events will take place in the future Reporter’s House, space that will from next year host BIRN’s museum, dedicated to media and journalists, war in former Yugoslavia and challenges to contemporary journalism.

Upcoming events as of January:

Presentation of BIRN’s report into the position of female journalists in the Western Balkans newsrooms, early January.

 

 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Training with High School Students in Gorazdevac

On December 4, BIRN Kosovo held the tenth and final training session with high school students from Gorazdveac, a Serbian village in the region of Peja, as part of the EU funded project “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists”.

The training which was held by trainers including Darko Dimitrijevic– a journalist and Executive Director of Radio Gorazdevac and Milic Petrovic – a producer at Radio Gorazdevac was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 11 students from Gorazdveac participated in the training, 6 of whom were women. While the training took place in the offices of Radio Gorazdevac.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

 

 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Training with High School Students in Drenas

On December 3, BIRN Kosovo held the ninth training session with students of the “Gjegj Kastrioti Skenderbeu” high school in the municipality of Drenas as part of the EU funded project “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists”.

The training which was held by trainers including Dorentina Kastrati – Editor of KALLXO.com and Valdet Salihu – Producer of “KALLXOPernime” was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 24 students from the social sciences department of the “Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu” high school participated, 19 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors. 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Training with High School Students in Malisheva

On December 3, BIRN Kosovo held the eighth training session with students of the “Hamdi Berisha” high school in the municipality of Malisheva as part of the EU funded project “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists”.

The training which was held by trainers including Dorentina Kastrati – Editor of KALLXO.com and Valdet Salihu – Producer of “KALLXOPernime” was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 30 students from the “Hamdi Berisha” high school participated, 22 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

 

 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Training with High School Students in Rahovec

On December 2, BIRN Kosovo held the seventh training session with students of the “Xhelal Hajda” high school in the municipality of Rahovec as part of the EU funded project “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists”.

 

The training which was held by trainers including Dorentina Kastrati – a Editor of KALLXO.com and Valdet Salihu – Producer of “KALLXOPernime” was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 25 students from the social sciences department of the “Xhelal Hajda” high school participated, 20 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

Call for Applications: Grants for Small Projects Focusing on Far–Right Extremism

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is launching a call for small project proposals on exploring various forms of radicalisation, extremism, hate speech and far right groups that have links with the Balkans.

Grants are offered to ten journalists, artists, academia or civil society activists that will have an opportunity to develop a concept that tackles these topics with the multidisciplinary approach.

Main focus of project proposals should be on exploring far right symbols, radical groups and extremist ideologies in local communities of the Balkan countries, their connections and cooperation with other similar groups, especially those in Europe and Middle East, the role of diaspora communities, disinformation efforts and online hubs.

Ten grantees will be selected on the basis of submitted applications. Grantees are expected to produce one project based on the proposal they submitted.

Mentorship support will be provided by BIRN.

GENERAL RULES FOR CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

  • A maximum of 10 grants is awarded
  • Maximum amount per grant: EUR 2,000.00
  • Project duration: 6 months
  • Propose a plan for using various platforms, including how to reach targeted audience
  • Give a clear overview of their timeline
  • Each applicant may submit only one application under this grant scheme.

HOW TO APPLY

Application form content

Applications must be submitted in line with the instructions and guidance of this Call. The designated application form must be used.

Application Form should be completed in English language. Any error or major discrepancy related to the Application Form instructions may lead to its rejection.

Clarifications will only be requested when information provided is not sufficient to conduct an objective assessment.

The Application Form must be filled out online, all additional documentation can be submitted in the online format. The application can be filled out by clicking a link below.

The application must be submitted by 23:59 CET, on December 20, 2021. In case of additional inquires please contact us at: [email protected]

EVALUATION AND SELECTION

All received proposals will go through three phases:

PHASE I: Technical evaluation done by BIRN staff to ensure applicants followed application procedures and submitted all required documents.

PHASE II: Evaluation by Committee will be done in order to select applicants based on evaluation criteria including:

  1. a) Quality of proposed idea
  2. a) Multiplier effect of the project result
  3. b) Innovation
  4. c) Level of interactivity of the project
  5. d) Ability to reach broad population

PHASE III: Notification of applicants and corrections (if necessary). Upon evaluation of applications, applicants will be notified. In case of suggestions (in case two or more applicants have similar submissions, proposals of different topics and such) applicants will have the option to submit another application, or to addend the existing application.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND ELIGIBILITY CHECK

During the administrative check the following will be assessed:

  • Compliance with the submission deadline. If the deadline has not been met, the application will automatically be rejected.
  • The Application Form satisfies all criteria specified above. If any of the requested information/document is missing or is incorrect, the application may be rejected on that sole basis and it will not be evaluated further.

The application that passes this check will be evaluated further as part of the quality assessment.

OPEN ONLINE APPLICATION

 

 

BIRN Kosovo Holds Training with High School Students in Prizren

On November 27, BIRN Kosovo held the sixth training session with students of the “Remzi Ademaj” high school in the municipality of Prizren as part of the EU funded project “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists”.

The training was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 15 students from the social sciences department of the “Remzi Ademaj” high school participated, 12 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

 

 

Journalist for BIRN Albania Wins Reporting Award

Journalist Jerola Ziaj has been awarded the best reporting award by the Albanian Union of Journalists for 2021.

Ziaj was recognised for her hard-hitting investigative stories about property issues non Albania’s southern coast.

“Her reporting about the property issues on Albania’s southern coast caused numerous reactions from the public and institutions and exposed the problem of corruption related to property issues in Albania, which has led to a criminal investigation,” said the Albanian Union of Journalists.

Ziaj is a reporter for A2 CNN TV in the city of Vlora and a frequent contributor to BIRN Albania’s site Reporter.al, on which she has published a number of investigations into property fraud on Albania’s southern coast.

She has worked as a correspondent for various national TV stations and online media since 2009.

 

 

Albanian Investigative Journalist Wins Award

Albanian journalist Anila Hoxha has been named as the winner of an investigative journalism competition organised by the OSCE Presence in Albania for the article ‘PPP Sterilisation Contract Costs Healthcare System Dearly’.

The investigation shed light on how doctors in Albania struggle to save patients’ lives while keeping costs under control due to a problematic public-private partnership contract for the supply of surgical instruments that was signed with a health consortium that has political ties.

The article was November in December 2020 by BIRN Albania’s online publication Reporter.al, as part of BIRN Albania’s mentorship scheme for local journalists, which aims to nurture quality investigative reporting.

Hoxha is an experienced court and crime journalists with Albania’s Top Channel TV. The award was presented during the 7th annual Media Development Forum organised by the OSCE Presence in Albania.