Category: News and Events

As concerns grow in the region over fake news, disinformation and propaganda – particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic – some governments are pushing forward legislative initiatives to regulate online media outlets’ content through administrative bodies.  At the same time, journalists, editors, media stakeholders and civil society organisations have strengthened their efforts to raise the bar of online journalism through improved ethical guidelines and self-regulatory bodies.

BIRN will host a star group of experts from across the region, to discuss the way government and the civil society sector are responding to these new asymmetrical threats to professional journalism in cyberspace and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on media freedom in the region.

The debate “Online Media Regulation: Between the Legal Gap and Government Pressure”, moderated by BIRN Albania editor Besar Likmeta, will discuss the pitfalls government and administrative bodies come up against in trying to regulate online media ethics and the efforts made to self-regulate by Balkan media and civil society, as a response to state oversight and the threat of censorship.

The debate will also focus on the impact that restrictions, imposed by these countries’ governments to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, are having on media, the freedom of expression and right to information.

How are online outlets and the industry coping amidst a shortfall of advertising revenue? Is government aid necessary for the media’s survival, or a threat to its independence?

Experts from six Balkan countries will take part in this discussion:

• Mirce Adamcevski, Chairman of the Complaints Commission of the Ethics Council (NM)
• Zlatan Music, OSCE BiH, Programme Officer, Media Freedom at OSCE
• Ranko Vujovic, President of the Council of the Agency for Electronic Media (MNE), as well as Executive Secretary of the Media Self-regulatory Council
• Koloreto Cukali, Head of the Albania Media Council
• Paula Petricevic, Ombudswoman of Daily and Portal Vijesti (MNE)
• Agron Bajrami, Board member of Kosovo Press Council

To join our first debate within a series of discussions on online media regulation in the Western Balkans region, connect with us on the platform ZOOM on Wednesday, September 23, at noon CET.

Save the date and register HERE.

If you are a senior journalism student, recent graduate or a young journalist at the beginning of your career and are looking for an opportunity to learn from highly dedicated media workers and editors in some of the most respected outlets in the Western Balkans, you are welcome to apply for this programme.

Most media receive applications for internships on a rolling basis, but rarely do they have the time and resources to offer a structured programme, with interns usually missing out on proper training, mentoring and feedback. This four-month-long programme, however, will first provide key theoretical foundations, followed by a systematic, yet very practical and realistic demonstration of work in an ever-busy newsroom.

Selected candidates will receive online training on the basics of journalism from an experienced international trainer at the beginning of the programme and spend the traineeship in one media outlet, where they will receive support from senior staff to understand and learn about some of the most relevant editorial procedures.

Trainees will become full-time members of the newsroom for four months, they will attend editorial meetings, learn how to pitch ideas, chose relevant angle for a story, learn how to cover daily events, how to perform different kinds of interviews, write analyses, feature stories, etc.

We are offering 12 traineeship placements in six Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia (two placements per country, see the full list of host media here).

Due to the travel restrictions and health concerns caused by COVID-19, applicants will be placed in the outlet in their country of residence. Applicants may express their preferences as to which media outlet they would like to spend their traineeship with, but the organisers maintain the right to make the final decision about placement.

Who can apply?

Senior year journalism students, recent graduates or young journalists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia may apply.

Applicants must be between 18 and 26 years old.

Candidates from all parts of the country in question are encouraged to apply, as the project can provide funds for travel within one country, as well as accommodation costs.

How to apply?

Applicants should complete and submit only one application that is attached to this CfA.

All applications should be submitted in English before October 4, at midnight Central European Time to [email protected] along with the following documents:

• Applicant’s CV (in English)
• Motivation letter (in English)
• Work sample (in English or local language)
• Evidence of status (in English or local language)

The motivation letter should show how you would benefit from this programme and your motivation to participate.

Applicants who do not have any published work can submit their student assignments from practical courses in journalism.

Applicants should provide evidence of their current status – whether they are students, recent graduates or working as journalists. This evidence includes, but are not limited to, confirmation of enrolment for the following year OR confirmation of graduation in the last two years OR evidence of your current employment.

Language:

All applications must be submitted in English, as well as applicants’ CV and motivation letter, while work samples and proof of status may be in local languages.

Working language of the initial online training on the basics of journalism will be English, so advanced knowledge of English language is required.

Traineeship programme will be delivered in local languages.

Financial support:

All selected participants will receive financial support during their placement to cover minimum living costs.

In case candidates need to travel or relocate within the country during the course of the programme, travel and accommodation costs will also be covered by the organisers.

COVID-19 restrictions:

Initial training will be delivered online, due to the different travel restrictions in the region, as well as relevant health recommendations.

Traineeship programme is set to be delivered in person, if possible, or as a combination of conventional offline approach and online, remote work.

Our main priority is to protect the health of all involved in this process, including the trainees and their mentors in the host media, so we will continue to closely monitor coronavirus-related developments and adjust relevant activities accordingly.

DURATION OF TRAINEESHIP: November 2020 – February 2021

ONLINE TRAINING: Two weeks, November 2020

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Download here

APPLICATION FORM: Download here

LIST OF HOST MEDIA: Download here

Investigative stories published from January 1 to December 31, 2019, and related to freedom of expression, rule of law, transparency, abuse of power and fundamental rights, corruption and organised crime are welcome to apply.

The award fund for BiH and Kosovo in 2020 (for achievements in 2019) is 10,000 EUR. The first prize will be 5,000 EUR, the second 3,000 EUR, and the third will be 2,000 EUR.

Individuals or groups of journalists are eligible to apply in all journalism forms (print, online, radio and TV) published or broadcast in the media in each country in official, minority or international languages.

Articles eligible for submission must appear in print, online, radio and TV media outlets during the 2019 calendar year.

EU Investigative Journalism Awards in the Western Balkans and Turkey aim to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of investigative journalists as well as improve the visibility of quality journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

The awards are a continuation of the ongoing regional EU Investigative Journalism Award in the Western Balkans and Turkey and part of the ongoing project ‘Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey’.

The project partners involved all have extensive expertise in the field of media freedom and have been recognised locally and internationally as strong independent media organisations.

The jury for the EU Award comprises media experts, some of them from the project consortia. Others are drawn from the extensive network projects that the consortium members have, such as editors, members of academia and journalists with merits.

Deadline for the submission of application is 18.10 2020.

For more details, contact [email protected]

Individual packages for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo can be found below.

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To download all necessary documents for Kosovo in Albanian click here.

To download all necessary documents for Kosovo in Serbian click here.

To download all necessary documents for Bosnia and Herzegovina in BHS click here.

The EU Investigative Journalism Awards in the Western Balkans and Turkey awards ceremony for Turkey was held in Ankara on August 28, hosted by its local partner, the Association of Journalists.

The Austrian head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Ambassador Christian Berger, attended the ceremony, marking his last event in Turkey, as his term in the country ended on August 31.^. 

In his opening remarks, Berger stressed the importance of supporting quality journalism through different programs and awards and underlined the importance of cooperation between the EU Delegations in different countries and local partners.

“Journalists are a very important component of a living and vibrant democracy. Please keep writing, and we keep reading and watching what you dispatch from Turkey,” he said.

The president of the Association of Journalists, Nazmi Bilgin, in turn thanked Berger for his support over the years and congratulated the finalists.

Vice President of the Association and jury head Yusuf Kanlı said a total of 53 applications were received this year and the high number and diversity of applicants had given the jury the chance to evaluate a wide array of successful investigative journalistic endeavours.

Ten applications on various topics were shortlisted and three women journalists received awards.

First place went to Zehra Özdilek of Cumhuriyet newspaper for her story, “Zindaşti Bomb”, which unearthed the ties between the drug trafficker Naci Zindaşti and Burhan Kuzu, a former MP of the current ruling party. During her acceptance speech Özdilek said she was accepting her award “on behalf of all imprisoned journalists”.

Second place went to Hale Gönültaş of Gazete Duvar news site, whose story, “Yezidi Hadiya’s Fight for Justice”, raised nationwide and international awareness about the Yezidi genocide in the Middle East and about a Yezidi woman Hadiya’s struggle to become the legal guardian of her two siblings.

During her acceptance speech Gönültaş said she wished to “accept this award on behalf of women who are victims of genocide, refugee women and those who fight for justice”.

Third place winner was Burcu Karakaş of Deutsche Welle’s Turkish Service, for her story, “Abortion in Turkey: Practically banned”. Her meticulous research portrayed the way abortion has become practically inaccessible in Turkey, even though it is a legal right guaranteed since 1983. Karakaş said she dedicated her award to “journalists who work under difficult circumstances and to women who do not give up on their rights”.

The ceremony continued with a reception. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events were held outdoors with limited attendance. Among those who attended were diplomatic representatives from various Balkan and EU countries, the president of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey, Gökhan Durmuş and journalists representing various media outlets.

The award fund in each country in 2020 (for achievements in 2019) is 10,000 EUR. The first prize will be 5,000 EUR, the second 3,000 EUR, and the third will be 2,000 EUR.

Individuals or groups of journalists are eligible to apply in all journalism forms (print, online, radio and TV) published or broadcast in the media in each country in official, minority or international languages.

Articles eligible for submission must appear in print, online, radio and TV media outlets during the 2019 calendar year.

The call was postponed in early March, but all applications previously received will be taken into consideration.

The application deadline is September 18.

EU Investigative Journalism Awards in the Western Balkans and Turkey aim to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of investigative journalists as well as improve the visibility of quality journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

The awards are a continuation of the ongoing regional EU Investigative Journalism Award in the Western Balkans and Turkey and part of the ongoing project ‘Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey’, funded by the European Union.

The project partners involved all have extensive expertise in the field of media freedom and have been recognised locally and internationally as strong independent media organisations.

The jury for the EU Award comprises media experts, some of them from the project consortia. Others are drawn from the extensive network projects that the consortium members have, such as editors, members of academia and journalists with merits.

The awards will be given annually in all six Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

For more details, deadlines and guidelines please download packages for individual countries below.

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To download all necessary documents for Montenegro click here

In our changing world, many media outlets are supporting their independent work by applying to calls for projects targeting different aspects of journalism. Implementing projects brings numerous benefits to the media organisation; not only does it help to cover the costs of production, but builds the organisation’s skills outside of the production set.

We are offering you our Project Cycle Management course, tailored especially for journalists, editors, producers and, in general, media organisations. The goal of this training is to show you the benefits of projects, to help you better understand project cycles and introduce you to the elements of project management which can be the most beneficial.

We are sure you have heard sentences like: “I am not interested in projects, but in journalism; let me do my job”, or “I do not understand project logic, its strange language; it is just empty words”. 

Our specifically tailored PCM training targeting media professionals follows a four-day programme and offers a contemporary learning experience through group work, presentations and two-way interactions. It will show you how a simple idea, that you may have over a coffee with a colleague, develops into something more meaningful and worthwhile, which complements your work rather than disrupts your routine.

The course is tailored to suit all levels of previous knowledge; it is well balanced and is not set to repeat information for those with more knowledge, but will not overwhelm those who are receiving this kind of information for the first time.

Having had first-hand experience with the struggle and resistance media organisations have with project cycles, our lead trainer Dusica Stilic, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network’s Head of Regional Operations, has used her knowledge of the PCM and the media to develop this unique course. She has also worked as a journalist and understands how you might first feel about project management (because, she did, too!). Dusica has a pedagogical background in education and practice, which making her one of the most engaging and systematic trainers in the region. For more information see Dusica’s bio here.

Who can apply?

Media outlets’ representatives (including journalists, editors, project coordinators, project assistants) and freelance journalists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia without required previous knowledge of PCM, who currently work on project implementation, or wish to do so in the future.

Please apply observing the information provided in the application form.

The number of participants is limited and we will give advantage to younger journalists, with less experience in the described field.

Only one individual per media will be admitted.

Minimum 12 and maximum 20 participants.

How to apply?

Applicants should complete and submit only one application that is attached to this CfA. All applications should be submitted in English to: [email protected] along with the applicant’s CV.

DATE OF TRAINING: October 12-16

TRAINING VENUE: Tirana, Albania, HOTEL Rogner**

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Download here

APPLICATION FORM: Download here

DEADLINE: September 13, at midnight Central European Time

REMARKS:

* For confirmed training participants, transportation and accommodation costs are provided, if required.

** Training should take place in Tirana, Albania, but due to the possible changes in travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemics, and with respect to the health recommendations, organisers keep the right to hold the online training instead.

Against a backdrop of democratic backsliding and the erosion of media freedom, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, last year continued its rigorous and award-winning coverage of political developments, corruption, human rights violations, environmental neglect and the legacy of war, according to BIRN’s 2019 annual report.

By reporting on and investigating governments and individuals, public and private companies, BIRN has contributed to the fight for accountability and good-governance by providing the people of South-East Europe with the information they need to take decisions, the report says.

The report highlights the political and media landscape in which BIRN operates, its expansion into Central Europe, the investigations and stories that mattered most, the donors who supported them and the impact made.

“In an era of disinformation and controlled media, people also recognised the importance of uncompromising investigative journalism that holds governments accountable and exposes wrongdoings,” BIRN Regional Director Marija Ristic wrote.

“We at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network are proud to have revealed numerous corrupt deals, instances of nepotism and abuse of power and many human rights violations.”

Ristic highlighted the fact that in 2019 BIRN expanded into Central Europe with the aim of connecting journalists from the Balkans with other colleagues in Europe, to tackle together the challenges facing democracy and monitor digital rights and freedoms across the wider region.

While democracy is being eroded in the region, 2019 also brought an increase in civic activism, protests and demands for accountability and change, Ristic wrote.

Local communities took the streets to demand clean rivers and less air pollution, women spoke out and united against powerful abusers, while citizens came together to offer assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers.

Click here to read the full report.