Call for Applications: BIRN BiH training on transitional justice for Ukrainian journalists and editors

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The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH) is announcing an open call for the training How and Why to Report About Transitional Justice, which will be held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from September 16 to September 18, 2024.

Photo: BIRN

As an organization with 20 years of experience in reporting on complex transitional justice topics in post war Bosnia and Herzegovina, we want to share our knowledge and skills related to high-quality reporting on transitional justice issues and other such sensitive topics with journalists in Ukraine who are facing challenging times in their reporting. BIRN BiH is organizing a three-day specialized training for journalists from Ukraine in Sarajevo, the capital of BiH.

We will select 10 experienced journalists and editors who are ready to follow the complex topics and extensive curriculum of the training. The specially-developed curriculum will aim to introduce the journalists to the concept of transitional justice and give insights into the challenges journalists face while covering transitional justice issues, including court reporting.

After the training BIRN BiH journalists will provide mentorship and editorial help to the journalists from Ukraine, who will be tasked with producing a total of four in-depth analyses (individually or in teams) from Ukraine about the ways in which the country plans to deal with each of the four pillars of transitional justice, as well as 10 news/media analyses (at least one piece per journalist/editor). Production of pieces after the training is obligatory for all journalists/editors who attend the training.

The journalists from Ukraine – who will receive comprehensive journalistic training as well as mentorship regarding the production of highly sensitive media content – will develop an in-depth understanding of what lies ahead for Ukrainian society in transitional justice processes as well as how to investigate war crimes, report on war crimes trials, contact and communicate with journalistic sources, conduct interviews with war crime victims, find human angles in the stories, counter disinformation and utilize investigative reporting techniques.

WHEN

The training will take place from September 16 to September 18, 2024. The arrival date is September 15 and the departure date is September 19.

WHO CAN APPLY

  • Mid-career journalists from Ukraine
  • Editors from Ukraine

WHAT WE OFFER

BIRN BiH will fully cover transportation, accommodation and meal costs.

Working language is English.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested journalists should send their:

  • CV
  • letter of interest
  • if possible two written pieces related to transitional justice topics (Ukrainian or English language)

DEADLINE

All documents and any additional questions should be sent to Katarina Zrinjski at [email protected] by August 4, 2024.

Draft agenda

TRAINING: How and why to report about transitional justice

Sarajevo, September 15-19, 2024

Day 1, September 15

ARRIVAL DAY

Day 2, September 16

09:00 – 09:30 Introduction session

09:30 – 10:45 What is transitional justice – four pillars

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break

11:10– 12:30 War crime prosecutions – how to monitor and report from the court

12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch break

13:30 – 14:45 Interviews with war crime victims – practical guidelines

14:45 – 15:30 Truth commissions – how to avoid mistakes from the former truth commissions: case study

15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 – 16:45 Missing persons – how to report on missing persons

16:45 – 17:15 Summary and closing remarks

Day 3, September 17

09:00 – 10:00 Reparations – legal framework, focus on victims

10:00 – 11:00 Memorialization – challenges and recommendations

11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break

11:15 – 12:30 Role of media in post war countries

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 – 14:30 Institutional reforms – vetting

14:30 – 15:30 How to fight war crime denial; reporting on hate crimes

15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 – 16:45 PTSD – dealing with war trauma

16:45 – 17:15 Summary and closing remarks

Day 4, September 18

Study visits to Srebrenica Memorial Center

Departure at 8am

Visiting exhibits; lecture on oral history; talking with genocide survivals

Day 5, September 19

DEPARTURE DAY