Lead Applicant’s Name:
BIRN Kosovo
Co-applicant:
BIRN HUB
Donor:
CFI – Développement Médias
Short Summary:
The “Unveiling Foreign Influences Behind Disinformation in the Western Balkans” project addresses the growing challenge of fake news and disinformation campaigns threatening geopolitical landscapes, particularly in the Western Balkans. The project produces a documentary revealing the sources and impacts of malign foreign disinformation campaigns and their pervasiveness in the media ecosystems of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Long Summary:
The “Unveiling Foreign Influences Behind Disinformation in the Western Balkans” project is led by BIRN Kosovo, in partnership with BIRN HUB and with the support of CFI – Développement Médias. This initiative addresses the growing challenge of fake news and disinformation campaigns that threaten geopolitical landscapes, particularly in the Western Balkans.
In a region vulnerable to Russian interference, disinformation campaigns aim to undermine support for European integration and have been especially active in spreading propaganda on NATO and exploiting divisions regarding accession. The Ukraine conflict has further intensified the spread of misinformation through social networks, inciting separatist influences in the region. Local media in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina have been particularly active in distorting the EU-led Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
The project confronts these challenges by producing a documentary that exposes the sources and impacts of disinformation campaigns and their pervasiveness in the media ecosystems of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Through journalistic investigations in these countries, the project aims to educate and inform the public on this phenomenon, while strengthening local media and journalists’ resilience against misinformation threats.
The project’s ultimate goal is to enhance transparency, encourage critical thinking, and contribute to a more informed and democratic society in the Western Balkans. By highlighting adverse influences, the project aims to bolster the region’s resilience against disinformation, advocate for media freedoms, and promote truth and transparency in public discourse.
Target Group(s):
- Local Media Outlets
- Local Journalists
- Civil Society Organizations
- Public Institutions
- Citizens of the Western Balkans
Expected Results:
- The documentary produced through the collaborative efforts of BIRN Kosovo and BIRN HUB will expose disinformation campaigns in the Western Balkans, bolstering the region’s resilience against malign disinformation efforts.
Main Activities:
Activity 1.1: Research and Interviews
Activity 1.2: Script Writing and Story Development
Activity 1.3: Production and Post-production of the Documentary
Activity 1.4: Translation, Editing, and Subtitling in Three Languages
Activity 1.5: Broadcasting the Documentary
