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BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting

Pack a notebook and perhaps some hiking shoes and join BIRN for a unique Summer School of Investigative Reporting from August 22nd – 28th within the Petrovaradin Fortress and in the stunning Fruska Gora National Park.

 

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, Nick Thorpe,  Mark Hunter, Luuk Sengers, Maunela Mareso and the OCCRP training team with Drew Sullivan, Rosemery 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.

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

Who should attend?

 

Mid-career journalists, from South East and Western Europe

Young journalists interested in finding out more about investigative reporting techniques.

Editors, interested in encouraging investigative reporting in their media outlets.

Representatives from higher education establishments, interested in incorporating investigative journalism into the curriculum.

Balkans-based International correspondents interested in finding out about the challenges faced by their regional colleagues.

Representatives of organisations involved in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Working language

 

English 

Fees

 

The course fee of €549, is all-inclusive, covering tuition, room, meals and extra-curricular tours. The fee also includes BIRN’s newly published textbook “Digging Deeper: A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans”. (LINK)

Scholarships

A limited number of full and part scholarships will be available to exceptional candidates. These will be awarded on a merit and need basis and may additionally cover travel costs up to €100.

The low cost of the School and the scholarship programme have been made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, The Open Society Institute London and OSCE Serbia.

Eligibility criteria for Scholarships

South East European journalists

At least three years of experience in journalism

Applicants must supply a sample of their published work, translated into English

Application Deadline

Applications for scholarships must be received by 25 July, 2010. No application for an assisted place will be considered after this deadline. Selected participants will be announced on August 2nd.

Standard applications must be received by 9 August 2010.  Applications received by 10 July 2010 will be eligible for a reduction of €100 in the course fee.

All participants will receive a BIRN Summer School certificate.

Application procedure for all applicants

Completed application form

Letter of motivation

C.V.

Sample of work ( for scholarship applicants only)

Apply Now >>

Life in Kosovo Debates Anticorruption Measures

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo will broadcast two debates, a debate regarding the activities undertaken by the Assembly of Kosovo in the fight against corruption, and another debate on the management of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo.

What has the Assembly of Kosovo done in the fight against corruption? How powerful are the current laws to fight corruption? Where does the problem lie according to civil society? Who didn’t state their assets? Who will verify those declarations? Why have the declarations of assets for 2008 not been published?

To discuss these and other measures against corruption that have to be taken from the institutions of Kosovo, Artan Haracia will be joined by:

Ramadan Avdiu, from PDK
Ibrahim Makolli, member of parliament from AKR and a member of the committee for legislation and judicial
Naim Rustemi, independent member of parliament
Hasan Preteni, chairman of the Anti-corruption Agency of Kosovo
Ismet Kryeziu, from the NGO Kosova Democratic Institute,
Lorik Bajrami, from the NGO ÇOHU.

During the debate, BIRN will also broadcast a reportage on declaration of assets of senior members of the government.

In the second debate, Edona Musa will look at the problems of managing the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, UCCK.

Has the decentralisation of this centre started? How will the health system be improved in the country with the allocated budget? Why have so few sackings and changes been made within UCCK? Was an appraisal made for four managers who were dismissed from the centre? Has a review on essential drugs been done?

To discuss these, the guests of Edona Musa will be:

Rrahim Krasniqi, deputy of the UCCK
Bajram Ajeti, member of the Independent Oversight Board of Kosovo
Islam Krasniqi, former manager of UCCK

During the debate, BIRN will broadcast a reportage from the researcher Faton Ademi who will present the serious conditions of the prosthetic service in the Main Family Medicine Centre in Mitrovica.

 

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

First Balkan Fellowship Alumni Meeting in Becici

More than 20 journalists from the Balkan region and elsewhere gathered last weekend in the coastal resort of Becici, in Montenegro, for the first Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence Alumni Meeting.

Fellows from three generations met to get to know one another and exchange professional experiences and views about the situation on the Balkan media scene.
 
In the relaxed atmosphere of the Montenegrin resort, the participants had an opportunity to present highlights of their work and special projects to their alumni-colleagues and inform them about important awards and scholarships they had obtained and career advances they had made in connection with the Fellowship.
 
Two guests from Montenegro, Daliborka Uljarevic, from the Center for Civic Education, and Mihailo Jovovic, deputy editor of the daily newspaper Vijesti, led sessions on the media scene in their country and explained how the most important issues are covered, which then initiated a broader debate about the problems of the regional media landscape as a whole.
 
Issues such as the impact of political and financial pressure on the media, the decline of local media, the challenge of low advertising revenues and circulations and the over-dominant role in the market of public broadcasters were recognized as joint problems that media encounter throughout the region.
 
The meeting will be followed up by joint work among the Fellows on regional journalistic projects with the aim of fostering not only their individual professional development but their team spirit as well, and at the same time as providing quality information about issues that are common to the region.
 
The initiative to hold an alumni meeting was taken following numerous expressions of interest by former Fellows in continuing to jointly contribute to the goal of promoting excellence in journalism in the Balkans.

Visit the photo gallery from the meeting 

BIRN Gathers in Montenegro for Regional Meeting

BIRN staff from across the region, as well as a number of BIRN partners and donors, participated in a regional meeting held last week near Budva, Montenegro.

BIRN journalists, editors, programme directors and managers met and discussed their projects and current activities as well as plans for the future. Each country office presented its current and future projects and programmes, and the gathering allowed the ever-expanding staff to meet colleagues from across the region and learn more about the activities of other members of the network.

 

In addition, the meeting served as an opportunity to gather BIRN management and directors and the network’s donors and board members, all of whom participated in two round tables which touched on questions about facilitating the sustainability of civil society organisations in the Balkans. The gathering was a chance for participants to further discuss the strategic planning and operations of BIRN, and the annual meeting of the BIRN Ltd. Assembly was also held. Journalists from across the Balkans participated in two skill-building sessions on organising editorial production and court reporting.

 

 

BIRN BiH Marks the Fifth Anniversary

The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina marked the fifth anniversary, and promoted a publication on complete work of the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. in “Mak” Gallery in Sarajevo, in the presence of representatives of The State Court and Prosecution, international and domestic partners, and collegues journalists, BIRN marked the fifth anniversary of its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

 

“We started working in 2005. as a small group of enthusiasts who believed that the truth is the only way towards reconciliation and progress in our country. The beginning of the War-crimes Chamber of the Court of BiH was an invitation for us, to join those who are fighting for truth every day”, Anisa Suceska-Vekic, the director of BIRN BiH said.

 

From March 2006 to the present date BIRN journalists have followed, from the beginning to en end, each trial conducted before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have written more than 8,000 daily trial reports, analysis and research articles.

Reports made by BIRN’s Justice Report Agency publicly raised numerous issues on war-crimes processing, judicial reform and coming to terms with the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

“I would like to thank all our readers, listeners, and those who are watching our program, for their letters of support. I would also like to thank our colleuges journalists, for enabling our work to reach as many citizens, as it can. I owe a special grateness to the victims associations for their support, cooperation and eternal patience”, Suceska-Vekic added.

<!** Image 3 align=”right” >Beside that, the director of BIRN BiH thanked the donors: the governments of Norway, Switzerland, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States, SOROS fondation, organization NED, OSCE mission in BiH, and Konrad Adenauer fondation.

BIRN also promoted its publication titled “The Age of Truth”, which contains an overview of the work performed by the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2005 to 2010.

For each case presented in it, the publication brings basic data on the person or the past and present proceedings against the person. It also gives a brief overview of crimes described in indictments or verdicts.

“We paid special attention to explanations of second instance verdicts, because they contain historically significant court facts determined by trial chambers in relation to certain crimes, victims and perpetrators”, Aida Alic, BIRN journalist, and the author of publication, said.

The electronic version of the publication can be downloaded from www.bim.ba web page

Fifth Anniversary of BIRN BiH

The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN)in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the fifth anniversary. On that occasion it promotes a publication on complete work of the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. in “Mak” Gallery (address: 7 Sime Milutinovica Sarajlije) BIRN will mark the fifth anniversary of its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From March 2006 to the present date BIRN journalists have followed, from the beginning to en end, each trial conducted before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have written more than 8,000 daily trial reports, analysis and research articles. Reports made by BIRN’s Justice Report Agency publicly raised numerous issues on war-crimes processing, judicial reform and coming to terms with the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.  

Its publication titled “The Age of Truth” contains an overview of the work performed by the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2005 to 2010.  

For the first time ever the publication brings a complete overview of all cases conducted up to the present date, including both the ongoing ones and the ones that have been completed by pronouncement of first or second instance verdicts. It also contains information about the indictees who are on the run.

From 2005, when the first verdict was pronounced before the State Court, to March 31, 2010 60 war-crimes verdicts have been pronounced, sentencing the indictees to more than 1,000 years in prison.

For each case presented in it, the publication brings basic data on the person or the past and present proceedings against the person. It also gives a brief overview of crimes described in indictments or verdicts.

We paid special attention to explanations of second instance verdicts, because they contain historically significant court facts determined by trial chambers in relation to certain crimes, victims and perpetrators.

A copy of the publication can be obtained at the presentation, while the electronic version can be downloaded, as of tomorrow, from www.bim.ba web page

Life in Kosovo debates the ruling coalition

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo will debate the latest developments in the country which have caused friction between the ruling coalition of the Democratic League of Kosovo and Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Should senior government officials be investigated? Should such investigations be announced? How are these investigations being reflected in the ruling coalition?

 

What will be the impact on the political scene? Will there be changes in the coalition? What are the chances of early elections? Is the ruling coalition sustainable?

To discuss these issues, the guests of Muhamet Hajrullahu in the studio will be:

Bajram Rexhepi, assembly member for the PDK and Minister of Internal Affairs;
Eqrem Kryeziu, assembly member for the LDK, and a member of presidency of the Parliament of Kosovo
Blerim Shala, assembly member for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK.

After the debate, BIRN will broadcast an investigative reportage by Artan Haracia, who talks about the problems of appointing directors to Gjilan municipality.

While in the section Justice in Kosovo, Isa Gacaferi finds out if Kosovo has laboratories and experts for criminal investigations.

 

 

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

Make Your Own Budget Event

Serbian Health Ministry has got the largest amount from the state coffer – 12.73 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 some 226 citizens in front of the Terazije fountain in Belgrade on May 15th, 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).

The Health Ministry is followed by Ministry of Education which got 10.5 per cent and Ministry of Science – 9.94 per cent whereas the lowest amount from the state coffer has been given to the Minister without Portfolio, Ministry for Diaspora and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

This informal public pulse palpation has shown that the government and citizens who have been filling the state coffers, have different views on what the budget priorities are. Those who have participated in the action were admitted to not simply make a decision on the allocation of resources.

“With this action we want to draw attention to the government’s obligation to involve citizens in the budgeting process, but also to remind people how important it is to require from government to be asked about the spending priorities,” Director of ProConcept Danko Cosic said.

“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.

Balkan Fellowship Story Praised at the GIJC

An Investigative story, written by 2009 Fellow Adrian Mogos received an honorable mention at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference, held in Geneva in April 2010.

Forged Identity – Highway to EU, was nominated and short-listed among three finalists for the Global Shining Light Award. Adrian’s story, demonstrated the ease with which illegal immigrants can take on new identities with forged and falsified Romanian identity documents and gain access and settle in the EU. Adrian himself secured forged Romanian identity documents which he was able to use in Germany in order to set up a second ‘identity’ in the country.

The award was established in 2007 as an award for investigative journalism in a developing country or a country in transition, which was reported under threat, duress or in the direst of conditions.

The criteria was that the journalist, journalism team and/or media outlet has provided independent, investigative reporting, which
– Uncovered an issue, a wrong-doing and/or a system of corruption which gravely affected the common good, and
– Did so in the face of arrest, imprisonment, violence against them and their families, and/or threats and intimidation

The winner was The Poverty ’empire’ of the presidential family, conducted by a cross-border group of journalists that  exposed how the former president of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, abused his power for personal financial gain.

Life in Kosovo debates School Textbooks

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo broadcasts a debate on the quality and accuracy of school textbooks in Kosovo.

In the coming days, some 300,000 school textbooks for primary and high schools in Kosovo will be printed. What’s the quality of the textbooks? Are there any scientific inaccuracies? How much information is included in them? Are they suited for their target age group?

 

Do these textbooks encourage the new generation to think critically or learn information off by heart?

In order to discuss these and other related issues, guests on Jeta Xharra’s

studio will be:

Resmije Kryeziu, Albanological Institute of Prishtina ;
Jusuf Thaci, author of BIRN’s analysis on school textbooks ;
Frasher Demaj, history school textbook author ;
Nehat Mustafa, Advisor on pre-university studies at the Ministry of Education,

Science and Technology, MASHT ;

Following the debate, under the section Week’s Highlights, Isa Gacaferi will

present EULEX’s investigations into corruption.

Journalist Edona Musa will talk about specialisations of students at University

Clinic Centre.

Finally, in the section Justice in Kosovo, journalist Faton Ademi will talk about

the decision of the Municipality of Lipjan to destroy temporary buildings that

are located on the railroad, for which the building owners have asked for

compensation.          

 


The BIRN publication in Albanian language “Problems and Inaccuracies in School Textbooks”,

which was launched on May 7, 2010, during a conference, can be downloaded here.

 

 

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