BIRN Kosovo Holds Training on the Methodology of Filming, Editing, and Presenting Oral History Interviews

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BIRN Kosovo held a one-day training on the Methodology of filming, editing, and presenting Oral History interviews on April 3 at the Civil Society House, in Prishtina.

Photo: BIRN Kosovo

The training consisted of four interactive sessions that were designed to address various questions related to oral history methodologies, with a particular focus on the technical aspects such as arranging the interviews and the interviewers, locations, logistics, filming, sounds, lighting, and editing.

In the initial session, attendees were given insights into the technical aspects of recording oral history interviews such as frame selection, lighting, and recording techniques. In the second session, the participants learned more about how to conduct interviews using the method of oral history and, in general, about the techniques for getting good human stories. During the third session, the focus was on improving the quality of written content by exploring techniques for editing and scriptwriting. In the last session, the attendees were able to see several presentations showcasing interviews within the context of exhibitions and memorials.

The trainers, Denis Dzidic, the Executive Director of  BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lamija Grebo, a journalist from BIRN BiH presented thoroughly their experience at the Oral History Memorial project which tells the stories of survivors in Srebrenica. The project ‘The Lives Behind the Fields of Death’ is a valuable example that will serve not only the participants who attended but also BIRN Kosovo’s aim to create such initiatives that commemorate the Kosovo war.

This training was attended by 36 journalist, including 20 women. The participants were engaged and asked a lot of interesting questions, especially about how to interview people and the importance of treating survivors with empathy and understanding. During the screening of interviews with survivors from the project  ‘The Lives Behind the Fields of Death’ the participants had the opportunity to see survivors who not only shared their stories, they also gave belongings of their loved ones, victims of Srebrenica.