Internet Freedom Meet 2025 (IFM 2025) will take place in Pristina, Kosovo, from November 24 to 26. It will bring together experts in the field of digital rights and internet freedoms to exchange, learn and discuss ever-expanding digital rights and freedoms issues.
The programme offers plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops aimed at empowering, educating and contributing to greater engagement in the field of digital rights in the Western Balkans. This marks the third year of the IFM organised as part of the Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms project.
What’s on the agenda?
Speakers and experts in their field will lead discussions on pressing issues, such as digital legislation (reform, regulation, weaponisation), unpack online scams across the Western Balkans and Turkey & institutional responses, misuse of AI in the context of disinformation and digital violence, political dissent and resistance online, online manipulation during elections and its influence on democratic processes, and surveillance & censorship.
At this year’s edition of IFM, attendees will also have the opportunity to join the launch of the new Digital Rights Violations Annual Report. The report provides an in-depth look at key findings across all monitored regions, highlights emerging trends based on data analysis and offers concrete recommendations to uphold human rights both online and offline.
Please note that the programme will be held in English.
Reasons to apply
The IFM 2025 in Pristina is a unique regional opportunity to engage with experts from different internet governance stakeholder groups, gain insights, and personally contribute to a future digital environment which is freer, safer and open for all.
This space is for you, whether you’re a digital rights activist, tech enthusiast, academic, journalist, internet policy pasionato or engaged netizen. Applications are open for individuals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Governing digital space means that each voice counts in discussions that concern us all.
How to apply
Applications are now open but please note that the seats are limited. You can apply by completing this application formby October 19th, 2025, at 23:59 CET. BIRN will cover accommodation and travel expenses for selected participants from the above-mentioned countries. Only selected applicants will be contacted.
Important note: Participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to enter Kosovo, have to have a new biometric ID card.
We are looking forward to your applications.
If you have IFM 2025-related questions, please contact [email protected].
Alongside hundreds of news organisations, media support associations and individuals from over 100 countries, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is taking part in this year’s World News Day, which is aimed at raising awareness about the value of credible news reporting.
As part of the World News Day activities, BIRN is highlighting 12 of Balkan Insight’s most important investigations from the past 12 months. The stories include reports on journalists being targeted by law enforcement in Romania and by the intelligence service in Serbia, the torture of migrants in the Balkans by an armed Afghan gang and the escalation of arms shipments to Israel from Serbia.
This report reveals how journalists conducting public-interest investigations in Romania were put under surveillance by their targets with the help of law enforcement.
A BIRN investigation supported by Amnesty International showed how Serbia’s domestic security agency has been unlocking activists’ phones using Israeli technology and installing a locally-developed spyware.
Between 2023 and 2024, the value of Serbian arms sales to Israel rose from 1.4 million euros to 42.3 million. Belgrade shrugged off widespread accusations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza and calls from United Nations human rights experts for a halt to the delivery of deadly weapons, BIRN and Haaretz reported.
Israeli PR guru Srulik Einhorn worked to burnish the image of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, BIRN and Haaretz reported – facilitate the flow of Serbian arms to Israel’s war in Gaza. Wanted for questioning in Israel, Einhorn has set up shop in Belgrade.
Srulik Einhorn (L) taking a photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Progressive Party headquarters, June 21, 2020. Photo: Vesna Lalic/Nova.rs
According to Frontex, the EU’s border force, the number of ‘illegal migrants’ using the Balkan route to reach the European bloc has fallen. With the EU tightening its borders, violent transnational smuggling groups have strengthened their grip on the routes that bring refugees and migrants to Europe through the Balkans.
Amid heightened border security, an armed Afghan gang operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina has turned to kidnapping asylum seekers and demanding ransom payments from their families. Its tactics include physical abuse and sometimes rape.
Italy’s right-wing government called it a magic wand for the migrants arriving on its shores, but a deal with Albania to outsource and accelerate asylum processing has run afoul of Italian courts. One Bangladeshi’s story explains how it also makes migrants’ journeys even more traumatic.
Migrant workers from Africa told BIRN about having to surrender their passports on arrival in Albania, working unpaid overtime and facing deportation once they are no longer required. Many are left with debts to the agencies that act as middlemen.
This report from Sarajevo details the creation of a shadowy, heavily-armed and potentially illegal police unit at the exclusive, 24-hour beck and call of the man who led Bosnia’s border police for nine years and is now a fugitive from arrest.
In 2022 and 2023, Serbia’s Education Ministry allocated almost 200,000 euros to 11 NGOs to organise violence prevention workshops in schools. BIRN has traced all the NGOs to the same small group of people – and found that most of the workshops never happened.
During the 1998-99 war in Kosovo, Roma municipal employees were forced to clean up the crimes committed by Serbian forces, carrying and disposing of corpses with their bare hands. Branded collaborators, they were targeted for revenge after the fighting finished.
The case of a Chinese-led power plant expansion in Serbia laid bare the extent to which President Aleksandar Vucic has upended the country’s constitution, creating an unofficial layer of government calling the shots in areas where legal experts say it has no jurisdiction whatsoever.
With extensive media experience and a strong background in project management, Dragana joined BIRN in February 2006, only a couple of months after its establishment, as project manager. She was promoted to country director in 2007.
Dragana previously worked for prominent international organisations, such as the Stability Pact for SEE, Transparency International and the European Agency for Reconstruction, as well as for electronic media.
Under her leadership, BIRN Serbia has been recognised for its professionalism and ability to influence the public agenda in the fields of media development and good governance.
But she only learned about the organisation a few days before her job interview.
“A colleague asked me if I’d like to meet Dragana Solomon, who was then the [BIRN Serbia] director. I still remember that meeting clearly. The office was in Jovanova Street, in Dorćol, a historic part of Belgrade. It was an informal, chatty meeting, and she was enthusiastic about what they had just started: five brave women. She wasn’t even sure exactly what they needed from me, but she was open to ideas. I remember that I felt this was the place where I could grow,” Dragana says.
In her opinion, it was great to be part of a team building something from scratch.
“Those of us who are here [in BIRN] from the beginning grew professionally alongside the organisation. Back then, we were just three people. Today, BIRN Serbia is a leading, award-winning investigative outlet that sets standards in the profession. We’re just now working on new projects about AI in journalism, kickstarting a community programme, and redesigning our website. It never stands still, and as long as we manage to remain relevant and at the forefront of media development, I assume expectations are met,” explains Dragana.
“Someone more cynical might say journalism has failed. But despite that, I was never ashamed to say where I work, in a country that has seen a dramatic decline of professional journalism, which is already a success,” she says.
BIRN has experienced many changes over the last 20 years. One of the most significant is growth.
“From a small group of enthusiasts with shared values, the BIRN network became a professional organisation with more than 300 people across the region. Of course, that changes the working culture. But I do believe our core values are still intact,” she adds.
“Managing these positions is possible because I have a great team and devoted partners. I’ve been doing both almost since the beginning and for me it’s the perfect balance. As director of BIRN Serbia, I am deeply rooted in the local scene, and the Fellowship broadens my horizons. I’ve met the brightest journalists from across Central and Eastern Europe,” she explains.
The Fellowship’s alumni network now has about 150 members.
“It keeps my curiosity alive. Some of the things that I learn from them we are also trying to implement in Serbia. If anyone needs tips from the Balkans to the Baltics, I’m your person,” Dragana says.
However, during her work in BIRN Serbia, Dragana, along with the rest of the team, has encountered various obstacles.
“Obstacles are many, unfortunately. First and foremost, financial challenges. There’s no sustainable business model for public interest media globally, and especially in politically captured markets like Serbia.
“Then come threats to physical safety, smear campaigns and digital threats, including spyware attacks on my colleagues. Add to that, non-functional institutions, and most recently, a new form of pressure, SLAPP lawsuits; we’re currently facing five of those,” explains Dragana.
Still, against all the odds, “we’re alive and kicking,” she adds.
“We keep reporting on corruption and systemic problems. We tell stories that people can relate to. We help them see the truth and understand it better. And in that context, being attacked means that we are doing our job well,” Dragana says.
As BIRN means “freedom to do what she believes in”, would she have done anything differently in her professional path, if she could?
“It’s a very hypothetical question. I could have done many things differently, but then the outcomes would be different as well, and I quite like what we’ve made. So instead of looking back, I’d rather focus on what’s coming next. We still have so much to do,” she says.
Speaking of how she sees BIRN in the next 20 years, Dragana says “the entire environment in which we work has changed” in the last 20 years.
“The main social and political concepts have changed globally, also affecting the media and its role in societies. We have also witnessed major technological developments. I sometimes joke that I became a director because I was the only one who knew how to use Excel, and since then, things have accelerated. The way we communicate, access and consume content, and the demands of the market, have completely changed, while the threats to information integrity are mounting.
Dragana with Denis Dzidic, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Director, and Ana Petrusheva, BIRN Macedonia’s Director
“Exactly because of that, I believe that real, hardcore journalism will be even more relevant in the years to come. So, I see BIRN adapting to new realities and staying faithful to its mission – to bring important stories to people,” she adds.
Those important stories are brought to the people through trusted independent journalism. September 28 is World News Day, a global campaign dedicated to highlighting the importance of fact-based journalism. Alongside hundreds of news organisations, media support associations, and individuals from over 100 countries, BIRN is participating in this year’s World News Day, which aims to raise awareness about the value of credible news reporting.
“Trusted journalism helps people make sense of the world, which is precisely why it is often seen as a threat by those in power who work hard to undermine it,” Dragana says.
“It prevents citizens from being left in the dark or manipulated by propaganda and lies, especially in times of crisis. For instance, since the recent protests in Serbia began, independent media have experienced a notable surge in audience. In societies where professional journalism is in decline and threats to reporters are increasing, producing fact-based, independent, trusted reporting becomes not only a public service but also an act of resistance,” she explains.
Outside of work, Dragana is a mother, daughter, sister, and friend. “People are what drive me, in work and in life. So, in my free time, you’ll probably find me surrounded by my gang,” she concludes.
From September 8-10, BIRN participated in the Global Gathering 2025 in Portugal, one of the most significant global events bringing together key actors working on digital rights and media freedom.
This year’s Global Gathering focused on topics such as the digital security of journalists and civil society, countering online censorship and surveillance, disinformation and internet governance. The event brought together participants from over 144 countries. Through numerous discussions, sessions, and exchanges of experience, it provided space for collectively exploring ways to counter the increasing threats to digital freedoms.
“Participating in the 2025 Global Gathering was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration and solidarity among civil society, researchers, journalists, and technologists, in the face of growing digital authoritarianism. We had the chance to discuss strategies for building resilience and improving our watchdog work on digital rights violations. This is especially critical now, as civil society and independent media around the world operate under growing pressure, not only from repressive regimes, but also from severe financial constraints. In this context, staying focused, adaptable, and united in our commitment to digital freedoms is not only urgent, but essential.”
– Megi Reci, Digital Rights Research Lead at BIRN
As part of our contribution to the event, BIRN hosted a two-hour booth where we showcased the results of the Digital Rights Programme and shared insights from Southeast Europe. We used the opportunity to raise awareness about key findings related to censorship and surveillance in the Western Balkans, based on research conducted in 2024 and early 2025.
“At the event, we contributed by sharing BIRN’s experience in developing and applying civic monitoring methodologies to document and respond to digital rights violations, particularly in hybrid regimes across South East Europe. We presented findings from our ongoing research into surveillance and censorship practices in the Western Balkans, highlighted the importance of protecting digital rights during elections and political unrest, and addressed the often overlooked collusion between state actors and private tech companies.”
– Megi Reci added.
This participation holds particular significance as BIRN marks 20 years of work in defending media freedom, transparency, and human rights across the region. Reflecting on this milestone, Digital Rights Programme Coordinator Azra Milić noted:
“Over two decades of BIRN’s work, we have witnessed how the nature of repression has shifted – increasingly moving into the digital environment. In response to these changes, BIRN established the Digital Rights Programme, recognising the growing need to protect digital freedoms.”
At the ABOAGORA symposium in Turku, Finland, on September 12, Nejra Mulaomerovic, Senior Project Manager of the Balkan Transitional Justice programme, presented the first multimedia database mapping mass graves from the Yugoslav wars.
The project highlights the ongoing challenges of remembrance, decades after the armed conflicts ended in former Yugoslavia and amid the gaps in transitional justice.
The panel session, titled Concealed in Plain Sight: Transcribing Transitional Justice Data Between Remembrance and Erasure, explored how judicial archives and public memory can transform fragmented sites of remembrance into meaningful narratives.
“Bitter Land is not only a map. It’s an attempt to resist forgetting,” said Nejra Mulaomerovic, Senior Project Manager of the Balkan Transitional Justice programme.
“To piece together the fragments scattered in archives, in courtrooms and in the soil itself. By bringing these graves into the public space, we’re saying that these crimes cannot be hidden, these people cannot be erased, and memory cannot be denied.
Photo: Pekko Vasantola
“I invite you to explore the project online, but more importantly — to reflect on what it means for a society when even the dead are unsettled,” she said.
Three other speakers, Ismar Cirkinagic, Selma CatoviC Hughes, and Anita Karabasic, shared artistic explorations of war archives, examining memory, trauma, and collective commemoration.
ABOAGORA’s interdisciplinary format, combining keynote lectures, panel discussions, and performative sessions, provided a platform to bridge archival research, art, and public engagement, highlighting innovative ways to connect past atrocities with present-day memory.
ABOAGORA is an annual international event that promotes dialogue between the arts, humanities, and sciences, held in Turku, Finland.
This year marks BIRN’s 20th anniversary. It all started when five women from countries recovering from brutal wars defied the odds to establish what would become a major independent media organisation – the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
One of them was Ana Petrusheva, BIRN Macedonia’s director. Prior to founding BIRN, Ana worked as a journalist for various outlets. During the conflict in 2001, she worked for Reuters and started writing for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). In 2003, she became country director for IWPR.
BIRN was founded two years later, and Ana was a managing editor of Balkan Insight between 2006 and 2016. She explains what it was like founding the network in 2005 with female colleagues in the traditional patriarchal region of the Western Balkans.
“In those days we were a small group, of mainly women, and we were all very close, had already worked together, we were loving it and we were convinced that we had a winning formula: that we could marry local knowledge and international standards and produce groundbreaking journalism that would be valuable to both local and international audiences. In doing so, we’d fill a substantial gap between what local media was reporting and how international media would often parachute in and out of our countries and produce reporting that would not necessarily paint the whole story or would lack certain context.
“Although the media market in the Balkans is traditionally oversaturated, it was always contaminated – now probably more than ever – with media serving various political or business interests rather than the public interest. In turn, that has made our role even more important,” says Ana.
There were several obstacles that the founders had to confront in working as an independent regional media organisation.
“Funding was one. We were new, we had great ideas, lots of ambition, but we had to start from scratch. Fortunately, the Swiss were among the first to recognise our potential and they supported the making of our 2005 documentary about Kosovo, ‘Does anyone have a plan?’, which involved dozens of interviews with politicians and ordinary people from the Balkans, as well as various top international officials. I believe it was that film, directed by Lode Desmet, along with the launch of Balkan Insight, that paved the way for the organisation it is today”, says Ana.
Besides working as a country director, she is also a member of the BIRN Board.
“The Board, over the years, has had a very important role in different aspects, from the general direction of the organisation’s development, to fundraising and programmes. My role, specifically, is to represent the Network members, given that the other members of the Board are not from BIRN. The board has played an important role in navigating the organisation, particularly at difficult times when the organisation has been under attack from various actors,” she adds.
As the director of BIRN Macedonia, Petrusheva has many tasks, among others: running the editorial, organising training sessions involving journalists throughout the country, and securing the organisation’s funding. Of course, she prefers some parts of her job.
“My passion and the part of my job I enjoy the most is and always has been the editorial part of it. I have been incredibly lucky to work with some of the finest reporters and editors in the country, who are eager to dive deep into complex stories, no matter how much time and work it takes. At the same time, equally important, we share the same ethical and professional standards to ensure the findings in our investigations are bulletproof. I am immensely proud of our stories and the Prizma publication that is recognised not only for its exceptional investigations but also for excellent writing and original storytelling,” Ana explains.
Speaking about BIRN Macedonia, Ana says it has been a pioneer in the region in developing massive, complex interactive databases on different topics.
“From the award-winning database uncovering the cost of the Skopje 2014 revamp, to a database documenting almost 10 years of foreign investments, which was shortlisted for the global Data Journalism Awards in 2017, to other databases detailing the spending in 80 municipalities over 4 years, exploring agricultural subsidies and media ownership in the country, to the latest published this year documenting all the properties and land owned by the biggest religious communities,” says Petrusheva.
Apart from that, she also enjoys the training sessions BIRN Macedonia organises, mainly for young journalists.
“It is so invigorating, the enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication of young people. It is also a good reminder that despite all the changes and looming dangers for the profession, be it from social media or AI, there are driven young people who recognise journalism as a calling, rather than just a job,” adds Ana.
And, in her opinion, those are the two most important pillars of BIRN’s work – reporting and training.
“Our publications, Balkan Insight – the flagship publication in English – but equally important Prizma in Macedonian, Detektor in Bosnian, BIRN’s publication in Serbia, Kallxo and Reporter in Kosovo and Albania, along with TV production in different countries, the stories that reach audiences through these outlets, that is what BIRN is about,” she says.
With all these BIRN activities in mind, journalism as a whole faces a tough future.
“Given the current global challenges and dangers for journalism, I believe we are entering a phase that will bring a whole new set of difficulties and obstacles for our work. The blurred lines between ‘content’ and journalism, the constant political attacks on professional media, the hike of SLAPP suits, the rise of AI and the decline of professional standards, the rise in journalists being killed, all point to rough seas for the profession, especially in regions with autocrats at the helm”, explains Ana.
For Ana, BIRN means freedom and privilege.
“Freedom to do great journalism, to uncover and expose wrongdoing and systemic flaws, to put difficult and complex issues under the spotlight without anyone hanging over your head, without any agendas. Privilege to work with an amazing team that shares the passion and dedication to make a difference, against all odds.”
But would she do anything differently if she could in her professional path over the past 20 years?
“Not necessarily. I am not a ‘what if’ type of person, as I believe that retrospect leads only to regret. If a certain decision seemed the right call at the time it was made, it was probably right. And when it wasn’t, it was a lesson that has further shaped my personal growth,” says Ana.
She has a clear image of BIRN in the next 20 years.
“Hopefully, it will continue to be a beacon of professional journalism, and its position would be further fortified against the tide of scandalous, false, superficial, malicious information stemming from all sorts of ‘content’ creators. At the same time, I hope it will continue to be an oasis for young reporters who receive BIRN training, regardless of whether on the job within BIRN or through its training programmes.”
Blake Morrison, Investigative Projects Editor at Reuters News, opened the fifth day of the 15th BIRN Summer School, where he gave attendees advice on how to pitch their stories.
Morrison was joined by Gordana Andric, Executive Editor, BIRN Serbia, and Sasa Dragojlo, BIRN Serbia Correspondent, to help 30 participants turn their story ideas into solid pitches.
Photo: Azem Kurtic
In the next session, Ana Petruseva, Director, BIRN Macedonia, held a workshop on ‘Developing Complex Databases with Thousands of Documents’, which gave participants new insights into handling large amounts of data.
“When we encounter a huge amount of data, we always find ourselves in a phase where we say ‘this can’t be done!’, but that usually means we have a new challenge that we want to overcome,” Petruseva told participants. “Methodology is key. If you have any inconsistencies, then you are in trouble.”
Photo: BIRN/Adnan Beqiri
She explained this using real world examples of data such as foreign investment, state subsidies and media ownership. She presented data on BIRN’s research into the land owned by religious communities – the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Islamic Community – in North Macedonia.
Photo: BIRN/Adnan Beqiri
Kreshnik Gashi, Managing Editor at Kallxo.com at BIRN Kosovo explained to participants in the next session how to and reduce legal risks in reporting. During his presentation, ‘Reporting Safely: Legal Considerations, Case Illustrations, and SLAPP Insights’, Gashi shared his experiences of protecting himself from SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuits, state pressure, corporate influence, and other challenges that can put journalists in legal jeopardy.
“Journalists are being arrested, sued, and threatened with lawsuits. Although we live in democratic societies, officials and people of influence and power can still pose a threat and attempt to intimidate us,” explained Gashi.
Photo: BIRN/Adnan Beqiri
He added that the goal of a SLAPP is not to win in court, but to drain the resources, time, and money of journalists and newsrooms.
Gashi also reminded colleagues that they must respect the ethical principles of journalism and comply with privacy rules. “Use your knowledge of the law to protect yourself,” he advised.
Next up, Denis Dzidic, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina Director, shared his experiences during a session called ‘Reporting in Times of Crisis – War Crimes Reporting’.
Photo: BIRN/Adnan Beqiri
Participants ended the day with a visit to the BIRN Museum Reporting House and participated in a panel discussion, ‘Investigative Journalism: Two Decades of Change, moderated by Denis Dzidic and attended by BIRN founders Petruseva, Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo Director, and Dragana Solomon.
Photo: BIRN/Adnan Beqiri
This was followed by the Certificate Awarding Ceremony in the Reporting House yard, during which journalists socialised and exchanged experiences in an informal setting.
She revealed the secrets of fact-checking to 30 participants at the school, held in Pristina, Kosovo.
“The fact-checker is not your enemy, but your friend,” said Milica. It is a process, she said, that is crucial for credibility. Mistakes can lead to journalists being liable to legal action, as well as embarrassment.
“In the process, there will be issues and debate. Sometimes you will spend three hours choosing the right word,” Milica explained. She provided several examples so participants could try their hand at fact-checking other people’s texts. This gave them an insight into how responsible and complex the job of a fact-checker is.
The session continued with Alexenia Dimitrova, journalist, OSINT expert, and lecturer in journalism. She delivered a lecture entitled ‘Hidden Places to Investigate Your Country’, demonstrating how open sources of information can provide access to valuable data.
Alexenia shared dozens of useful sources that journalists can rely on when governments in certain countries deny them the information to which they are entitled. “A lot of data is available if you know where to look,” Alexenia emphasised.
Azem Kurtic, a Balkan Insight journalist from the BIRN Hub, discussed a recent investigation which involved him hunting down a location. “By analysing photographs, geolocations, and visual clues, a great deal can be uncovered,” said Kurtic, who shared his combination of computer skills, creativity, and expertise. Through his eyes, participants were able to see the entire process he went through in search of evidence.
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer and Investigative Projects Editor at Reuters News, continued the session with a gripping story from his career, illustrating how crucial timing is in telling a story.
He emphasised, from his own experience, that there is no such thing as unimportant information or failed stories, since everything a journalist does may one day prove to be of vital importance. The participants, clearly impressed, had the opportunity to hear first-hand insights on how to become better journalists.
The third day of the BIRN Summer School in Pristina continued with the Advanced Data Journalism course, taught by Jonathan Soma, professor of data journalism at Columbia University’s Journalism School.
Summing up the previous day, lead trainer Blake Morrison told everyone: “We are the family of journalists. If you do something good, it makes us all look good.”
Soma showed participants how to transcribe their interviews quickly and efficiently with the help of AI, saving significant time. The participants were impressed by the speed and accuracy with which voice was converted into text, without the need for additional effort.
He also revealed numerous other techniques that will make their work easier in the future, demonstrating practical solutions to overcome technical difficulties.
The participants adopted new skills such as searching huge databases and finding answers that previously required days of preparation and reading, now achievable in just a few seconds.
The session continued with Sharbil Nammour, Media Safety Advisor and Founder of Vallaris Solutions.
“I’m interested in your safety. Of course, you have to do the job, but you must also take care of yourself,” Nammour warned the journalists, stressing that in risky situations they need to pay close attention to time and distance – two factors they must proactively control.
Using examples such as protest footage and reports from high-risk areas, Nammour vividly illustrated poor practices in reporting. “Be careful that the journalist does not become the story,” he cautioned, while outlining the best ways to prevent such situations.
The packed lecture schedule continued with Kreshnik Gashi, Managing Editor of Kallxo.com, based in BIRN Kosovo, and Sasa Dragojlo, an investigative journalist at Balkan Insight at BIRN’s hub, who presented their award-winning investigative stories on organised crime groups.
Gashi and Dragojlo discussed the links between crime and politics, as well as the importance of cultivating reliable sources of information.
“Thanks to our story, around 30 corrupt police officers were arrested,” said Gashi, who investigated money laundering schemes originating in Kosovo and ending up as investments in Montenegro. “You have to have your informants, but you have to constantly think about their well-being because they can pay a terrible price,” said Gashi.
Dragojlo presented a series of stories he has been writing for the past four years about migrant smuggling and the Balkan migrant route. “You can’t have armed foreign nationals in border areas without the police knowing, that’s what caught my attention,” Dragojlo said. Advising the participants, he told them: “Be patient, working slowly, and horizontally, will get you vertically.”
In the afternoon, participants visited the Kallxo Studio in Pristina, where they attended a lecture by Jeta Xharra, Director of BIRN Kosovo, entitled ‘From Exposure to Impact: Why Some Investigations Spark Change and Others Don’t’.
The long third day concluded with Emma Thomasson, journalist and media consultant, who highlighted the importance of mental health for journalists.
She spoke about stress, burnout, and other mental health risks, as well as strategies for improving team communication and managing conflict.
During the second day of BIRN’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting, participants learned how to use open source data to gather information, how to use AI in everyday work and how to increase their own digital security.
The second day of BIRN’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting in Pristina, Kosovo, continued with a masterclass in open-source intelligence (OSINT) with Reuter’s visual investigations reporter, Reade Levinson.
Levinson shared tips and tricks on how to use free satellite imagery providers and their different tools in order to find and verify publicly available information online, and how to track ships and planes.
Using examples from the stories produced by Levinson and Reuters, participants immediately put their newly harvested skills to the test. “My steps may not be the same as yours, so please share it with us, as this is the space to also learn from each other,” Levinson told participants.
The day continued with Jonathan Soma, professor in data journalism at Columbia University Journalism School. With Soma, journalists gained elements of analysis using data tool Pandas and coding with the help of AI.
“One of the things that people joke about data journalists is that you spend six months finding data, then a month or two analysing it, which ends up as one paragraph in the article,” Soma said.
“But this does not mean that data journalism is not important or fun to do,” he added.
Sharbil Nammour, media safety adviser and founder of Vallaris Solutions, a consultancy company specialised in working with media in risk assessment and safety planning, shared tips on how to stay safe online and protect your privacy.
“On a societal scale, digital security is press freedom in practice. On a personal scale, digital security isn’t about paranoia, it’s about habits. Own your safety,” Nammour said.
