Marija brought to BIRN more than 15 years of working experience in the NGO sector, nationally, regionally and internationally. Her extensive working experience includes coordination and projection of actions in media, education and human rights. She is passionate about developing projects and programmes that involve innovative approaches, different stakeholders and digitalization, focused on ensuring a long-term impact on society. Marija is also highly experienced in monitoring and evaluation and in quality assurance in higher education.
She holds a Master’s in finance and financial Law and a Bachelor’s degree in law obtained from Justinian Primus – Skopje. Currently, she is a PhD student at the University of American College – Skopje, focusing her research on the quality of education in relation to macroeconomic development. Let’s meet her!
- You had more than 15 years of experience in the NGO sector when you joined the BIRN team in September 2022 as a Project Manager for Business Development. What did you expect from BIRN, and what did you get from the organisation?
My first contact with BIRN was at BIRN`s Summer School in 2012. Back then, I was a radio host and journalist involved in producing TV stories for marginalized and vulnerable groups of citizens in North Macedonia. After the Summer School, I continued cooperating with BIRN Macedonia in different capacities.
Ten years later, in 2022, I applied to become an official part of the BIRN team. I expected to work with people who would motivate me always to strive for excellence, a place of mutual learning with an amazing team, and an opportunity to contribute to a greater cause through my hard work.
Being part of BIRN is a significant and serious commitment for me. It requires high-quality work and a lot of dedication, as BIRN maintains much higher standards than most other organisations.
To be honest, I received much more than I expected. Today, I can honestly say that BIRN has given me a dream team, friends and colleagues with whom I enjoy working hard. I have received support to realize my ideas, a place where I can make meaningful changes, and the opportunity to continuously grow professionally, so that I can contribute even more to the organisation.
- Recently, you were appointed Programme Manager for Capacity Building and Strengthening of Independent Media. Tell us more about this position.
BIRN’s field of work is focused on the following topics:
1) Investigative journalism;
2) Transitional justice;
3) Capacity building and Strengthening of Independent Media;
4) Digital rights (specifically in relation to human rights).
The Capacity Building and Strengthening of Independent Media programme aims to build capacities for journalists, media outlets and CSOs from Southeast Europe. Through the projects integrated in this programme BIRN supports media and journalists in the production of quality and citizens-engaged content. Through this programme, the Network leverages its extensive experience in investigative and cross-border journalism to share valuable insights with other media outlets and journalists. The final aim is to build a robust system that supports a sustainable and independent media sector. The programme has been quite successful so far. I have “big shoes to fill”, but I promise to give it my best effort.
- What is the most challenging thing in your work?
My colleagues struggle to understand the Macedonian version of the BHS language. 🙂 Sometimes we struggle with my version of the BHS language, but I am learning the language fast, just like they are. In addition to this, a real struggle is to provide a wider and unified approach for all Western Balkan countries, since every country is unique and the context in each of them is changing daily. Because of this, we seek to establish a standard that can be adapted to the specific needs of each country but seen through the perspective of cross-border work for higher impact.
- What is the most satisfying part of your job?
The most satisfying part of my job is being in a dynamic learning environment where I am continuously acquiring new skills that enhance my professional growth. What makes this journey even more inspiring is working alongside a group of strong, motivated women who are focused, supportive and solution oriented. Their unwavering support makes me feel like an integral part of not just a team but a family.
- What are the Capacity Building and Strengthening of Independent Media programme’s plans for the future?
I see BIRN as a knowledge-sharing organisation based on the experience that the whole Network has. Sometimes I think we are not even fully aware of all the capacities that are circling around the Network. We must contribute towards a higher level of independence in the media sector in the targeted region with our work. Ensuring continuous opportunities for capacity building for as many as possible journalists, media workers and media outlets is something for which we are aiming.
In the upcoming period, I will strive to steer the programme towards innovative and certified capacity-building approaches for media professionals and journalists. My goal is to foster the development of an ecosystem that supports an independent media sector. To achieve this, I plan to create a comprehensive catalogue of capacity-building activities tailored to the evolving needs of journalists. Additionally, I aim to establish new partnerships across various sectors, including academia and the IT start-up community.
- What are you proudest of regarding your work in BIRN?
The team of project management staff and editors/mentors with whom I cooperate on a daily level. Our team of editors/mentors and their professional approaches are shaping media sectors in all Western Balkan countries. They are leading the media sector towards ethical and quality reporting. Last year, randomly, I was part of a Summer School at which a young journalist approached me and told me that the mentorship of one of our editors/mentors had been more effective than his professional education. So, yes, I am most proud of the editors/mentors with whom I am working, and I enjoy seeing the seeds of their work growing in impactful and change-making stories.