Tag: Kosovo

BIRN Kosovo and six other Kosovo-based NGOs and media organisations have formed the Kosovo Coalition Against Disinformation.

“The coalition aims to advocate for and support awareness raising and capacity building in Kosovo society in order to face the challenges of disinformation and build a society in which accurate, full, and timely information is the foundation of information,” their joint statement read.

The organisations participating in the coalition alongside BIRN are the NGOs Democracy Plus, Democracy for Development and Roma in Action, the media outlet Internews Kosova and the Serbian-language media outlets KoSSev and Gracanica Online.

BIRN Kosovo director Jeta Xharra said the coalition’s goal is to “function as a vaccine against the disinformation virus and the untrue propaganda that is shared very quickly in many information channels that exist today, including social media networks”.

Xharra added: “We decided to become strategic and create alliances with other civil society and media organisations which have worked in this field. We are started today with seven members but we aim to include new members in future.”

She explained that the members have worked together to create the coalition’s principles in the war against disinformation in order to “to make this alliance functional in all the territory of Kosovo including the many languages of Kosovo, not only the language of the majority”.

The ambassador of Switzerland to Kosovo, Thomas Kolly, said the media have an obligation to offer the truth to news consumers.

“Everyone has the right to be told the truth, the media has an obligation to tell us this. We as consumers are on the other side. This coalition is a wonderful concept,” he said.

Alongside the two main ethnic communities of Albanians and Serbs, Kosovo’s constitution recognises Romani, Egyptian, Ashkali, and Turkish communities. Serbian and Albanian are official languages, but in certain towns Romani and Turkish are also widely spoken.

“If those who distribute disinformation are organised, we, on the other hand, must become organised and strategic to stop disinformation, and this is not done alone but together around good information,” Xharra said.

Tatjana Lazarevic, from the KoSSev portal, said she expected the coalition to aid justice, impartiality and accuracy.

“My expectation is to share together the values of the Declaration; they are words for me, which means, words with meaning; I expect us to practice our profession, not to serve politics. I expect us to spread justice, impartiality, accuracy; to increase the potential of our professional community and media literacy, but also the expectations and power of our public,” she said.

The Kosovo Coalition on Disinformation intends to become a platform of civil society and media organizations “that defend freedom of expression, pluralism of thought and free flow of information”, fighting disinformation not only via reporting but also in the field of education and science.

During the announcement ceremony, the coalition brought together various representatives from embassies, prominent media institutions, journalists and NGOs.

The project is supported by the Swiss embassy.

 

 

With technology evolving rapidly, it’s essential for journalists to stay up-to-date on the latest methods and strategies to uncover and appropriately report on digital rights violations. To tackle these challenges, BIRN is organizing a three-day training that will focus on the theoretical and practical framework necessary to understand digital rights and how to report on breaches, blocking and filtering content, manipulations, and propaganda in the digital environment.

Numerous reports from international human rights organisations, media organisations, CSOs and international institutions indicate a concerning situation regarding digital rights in the Balkans, highlighting the need for continued efforts to improve the protection and promotion of these rights, but also to enhance journalists’ ability to adequately report on these issues. Although many of the countries from the region have regulatory frameworks that formally address these issues, challenges persist, such as online surveillance, censorship and data privacy issues.

Frequent cyberattacks and online harassment also threaten the safety and security of many, including journalists, who are often targets of online attacks. Still, many journalists from the region may not be fully aware of the extent of digital rights violations or the underlying legal and technological aspects that lead to these kinds of violations.

BIRN’s training will provide ten selected journalists from Kosovo with a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake, helping them to identify and report on digital rights violations more effectively. Journalists play a crucial role in raising public awareness and driving change, and by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge, this training will enable them to produce impactful stories that can contribute to a more informed public debate and eventually lead to policy changes that protect and promote digital rights in the Balkans.

Who can apply?

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) invites journalists from Kosovo to apply for a three-day training on reporting digital rights violations.

How to apply?

To apply, interested journalists should demonstrate an interest in digital rights, possess previous journalism experience and show active engagement in the field of digital rights. A selection committee will evaluate the applications and select ten journalists to participate in the training.

To apply, submit the following application form along with your CV and a motivational letter to [email protected] no later than May 19, 2023, by 5 pm CET, with the subject line: Digital Rights Reporting Training for Journalists KOSOVO.

Where?

The training will take place in Brezovica, Kosovo, from May 26 to May 28, 2023. The organizers will fully cover travel and accommodation costs for selected participants. The working language of the training is Albanian and English.

What to expect?

The training will provide selected journalists with essential skills and knowledge to effectively investigate and report on digital rights violations in an ever-changing technological landscape. The training will cover various aspects of digital rights reporting, including identifying and collecting digital rights violations, categorizing these violations, and reporting on individual cases and broader trends.

The program will also focus on multimedia, contemporary tools, and modern journalistic approaches, such as open-source investigations, data journalism, fact-checking, and cross-border collaborations. The training in Brezovica will offer valuable educational insights and provide the opportunity to connect with fellow journalists and experts working in the digital rights field.

Unique opportunity after the training

Upon completion of the training, journalists will have the opportunity to pitch their story ideas to BIRN. Selected journalists will receive on-the-job mentoring and financial support to research and apply their newly acquired skills to implement their ideas on cases involving breaches, content blocking, filtering, manipulations, and propaganda in the digital environment.

Long story short

DEADLINE: Submit the application form along with your CV and a motivational letter to [email protected]  no later than May 19, 2023, at 5 pm CET with the subject line: Digital Rights Reporting Training for Journalists KOSOVO.

DATES OF TRAINING: May 26, May 27, and May 28, 2023

LOCATION: Brezovica, Kosovo

 

Trajnim për të Drejtat Digjitale për Gazetarët e Kosovës: Ftesë për aplikim

BIRN fton gazetarët e Kosovës që të aplikojnë për një program tre-ditor trajnimi i cili ka për qëllim të trajtojë çështjet gjithnjë e më shqetësuese lidhur me shkeljet e të drejtave dhe lirive digjitale në Ballkan. Ky trajnim, i cili do të mbahet në Brezovicë të Kosovës, nga data 26 maj deri më 28 maj 2023, do t’u ofrojë pjesëmarrësve një pasqyrë të plotë të kuptimit të të drejtave digjitale, duke u fokusuar në raportimin e shkeljeve, bllokimet e postimeve, manipulimet, dhe propagandën në sferën digjitale.

Marrë parasysh sa shpejtë po ndryshon teknologjia, është me rëndësi thelbësore që gazetarët të jenë në hap me metodat dhe strategjitë e fundit se si zbulohen dhe si raportohen në mënyrë të duhur shkeljet e të drejtave digjitale. Për të trajtuar këto sfida, BIRN është duke organizuar trajnim tre-ditor i cili do të fokusohet në kornizën teorike dhe praktike të domosdoshme për të kuptuar të drejtat digjitale dhe mënyrën e raportimit të shkeljeve, bllokimeve dhe filtrimit të postimeve, manipulimet dhe propagandën në mjedisin digjital.

Një numër i madh raportesh nga organizata ndërkombëtare të të drejtave të njeriut, organizata mediatike, organizata të shoqërisë civile dhe institucione ndërkombëtare tregojnë se situata lidhur me të drejtat digjitale në Ballkan është shqetësuese, dhe raportet theksojnë se ka nevojë për përpjekje të vazhdueshme për të përmirësuar mbrojtjen dhe promovimin e këtyre të drejtave, por edhe për të përmirësuar aftësitë e gazetarëve për të raportuar si duhet këto çështje. Pavarësisht asaj se shumë vende të rajonit kanë korniza rregullative të cilat trajtojnë zyrtarisht këto çështje, sfidat vazhdojnë, sfidat me çështje si mbikëqyrja në internet, censura dhe privatësia e të dhënave.

Sulmet e shpeshta kibernetike dhe ngacmimet në internet janë gjëra që po ashtu rrezikojnë sigurinë dhe mbrojtjen e shumë njerëzve, duke përfshirë ato të gazetarëve, të cilët shpesh janë caqe të sulmeve në internet.

Prapëseprapë, shumë gazetarë të rajonit mund të mos jenë plotësisht në dijeni për nivelin e shkeljeve të të drejtave digjitale apo për aspektet themelore ligjore e teknologjike që çojnë tek këto lloj shkeljesh.

Trajnimi i BIRN-it do t’u ofrojë dhjetë gazetarëve të përzgjedhur nga Kosova një pasqyrë të plotë të kuptimit të këtyre çështjeve, dhe do t’i ndihmojë ata të identifikojnë dhe raportojnë në mënyrë më efektive shkeljet e të drejtave digjitale. Gazetarët luajnë rol vendimtar në rritjen e ndërgjegjësimit publik dhe në shtyrjen përpara të ndryshimeve, andaj, duke i pajisur ata me aftësitë dhe njohuritë e duhura, ky trajnim do t’u mundësojë atyre të përgatisin storie të cilat do të kenë efekt dhe të cilat mund t’i kontribuojnë një debati publik më të informuar dhe përfundimisht mund të çojnë tek ndryshime të politikave të cilat mbrojnë dhe promovojnë të drejtat digjitale në Ballkan.

Kush mund të aplikojë?

Rrjeti Ballkanik i Gazetarisë Hulumtuese (BIRN) fton gazetarët nga Kosova të aplikojnë për pjesëmarrje në trajnimin tre-ditor për raportimin e shkeljeve të të drejtave digjitale.

Si të aplikoni?

Për të aplikuar për këtë mundësi, gazetarët e interesuar duhet të dëshmojnë se kanë interesim në të drejtat digjitale, përvojë të mëparshme gazetareske, dhe të tregojnë angazhim aktiv në fushën e të drejtave digjitale. Një komision vlerësues do të vlerësojë aplikacionet dhe do të përzgjedhë dhjetë gazetarë për të marrë pjesë në trajnim.

Për të aplikuar, dorëzoni këtë formular aplikimi bashkë me CV-në tuaj dhe një letër motivuese tek [email protected]  më së largu më datë 19 maj 2023, ora 17:00 duke shkruar tek subjekti i emailit: Digital Rights Reporting Training for Journalists KOSOVO.

Ku?

Trajnimi do të mbahet në Brezovicë të Kosovës, nga data 26 maj deri më 28 maj 2023. Organizatorët do të mbulojnë plotësisht shpenzimet e udhëtimit dhe qëndrimit për pjesëmarrësit e përzgjedhur. Gjuha e punës në trajnim është shqip dhe anglisht.

Çfarë ju pret?

Gazetarëve të përzgjedhur trajnimi do t’u ofrojë aftësi dhe njohuri thelbësore të hetimit/hulumtimit dhe raportimit efektiv të shkeljeve të të drejtave digjitale në sferën teknologjike e cila gjithnjë është duke ndryshuar. Trajnimi do të shikojë aspektet e ndryshme të raportimit të të drejtave digjitale, duke përfshirë identifikimin dhe grumbullimin e shkeljeve të të drejtave digjitale, kategorizimin shkeljeve, dhe raportimin e rasteve individuale dhe tendencave më të gjera.

Programi i trajnimit do të fokusohet edhe në multimedia, mjetet bashkëkohore, qasjet moderne gazetareske siç janë hetimet/hulumtimet me mjete teknologjike me burim të hapur, gazetarinë e cila bazohet në analizim të të dhënave, kontrollimin e fakteve dhe bashkëpunimet ndërkufitare. Trajnimi në Brezovicë do të ofrojë njohuri të vlefshme edukative dhe do të ofrojë mundësi për t’u njohur me kolegë gazetarë dhe ekspertë të cilët punojnë në fushën e të drejtave digjitale.

Mundësi unike pas trajnimit

Pas përfundimit të trajnimit, gazetarët do të kenë mundësinë që t’i paraqesin BIRN-it idetë e tyre për storie. Gazetarët e përzgjedhur do të përfitojnë mentorim dhe mbështetje financiare për të bërë hulumtim dhe për të zbatuar aftësitë e posa-fituara të tyre për të realizuar idetë që kanë për storie lidhur me shkelje, bllokime të postimeve, filtrimeve, manipulimeve dhe propagandave në mjedisin digjital.

Pra, si përmbledhje

AFATI I FUNDIT: Dërgoni këtë formular aplikimi bashkë me CV-në tuaj dhe një letër motivuese tek [email protected]  më së largu deri më datë 19 maj 2023, ora 17:00 duke shkruar tek subjekti i emailit: Digital Rights Reporting Training for Journalists KOSOVO.

DATAT E TRAJNIMIT: 26 maj, 27 maj dhe 28 maj 2023

LOKACIONI: Brezovicë, Kosovë

 

Obuka o digitalnim pravima za novinare na Kosovu: Otvoren je rok za prijavu

BIRN poziva kosovske novinare da se prijave na trodnevni program obuke koji je osmišljen da odgovori na rastuću zabrinutost o kršenjima digitalnih prava i sloboda na Balkanu. Ovaj događaj, koji će se održati u Brezovici, na Kosovu, od 26 do 28 maja 2023. godine, će pružiti učesnicima sveobuhvatno razumevanje o digitalnim pravima, sa fokusom na kršenja u toku izveštavanja, blokiranje sadržaja, manipulacije i propagandu u digitalnom svetu.

Uz tehnologiju koja se brzo razvija, za novinare je od suštinskog značaja da budu u koraku sa poslednjim metodama i strategijama za otkrivanje i pravilno izveštavanje o kršenju digitalnih prava. Da bi se uhvatio u koštac sa ovim izazovima, BIRN organizuje trodnevnu obuku koja će se fokusirati na teoretski i praktički okvir neophodan za razumevanje digitalnih prava i kako izveštavati o prekršajima, blokiranju i filtriranju sadržaja, manipulacijama i propagandi u digitalnom okruženju.

Brojni izveštaji od međunarodnih ogranizacija za ljudska prava, medijskih organizacija, organizacija civilnog društva i međunarodnih institucija ukazuju na zabrinjavajuću situaciju u vezi digitalnih prava na Balkanu, naglašavajući potrebu za neprekidnim naporima da se poboljša zaštita i promocija ovih prava, ali i da se unaprede veštine novinara da adekvatno izveštavaju o ovim pitanjima. Iako većina zemalja u regiji poseduje regulatorni okvir koji se zvanično bavi ovim pitanjima, izazov i dalje postoji u sledećim pitanjima: online nadzor, cenzura i pitanja o privatnosti podataka.

Česti sajber napadi i onlajn uznemiravanje takođe prete sigurnosti i bezbednosti mnogih ljudi, ukjučujući novinare koji se često nalaze na meti ovih onlajn napada. Međutim, mnogi novinari iz regije možda nisu svesni razmera kršenja diitalnih prava ili pravnih i tehnoloških aspekata koji vode do ovih vrsta prekršaja.

BIRN-ova obuka će deset odabranim novinarima sa Kosova sa sveobuhvatnim razumevanjem pitanja o kojima je reč, pomoći da identifikuju i izveštavaju o kršenjima digitalnih prava na efikasniji način. Novinari igraju važnu ulogu u podizanju svesti javnosti i pokretanju promena, kao i u naoružavanju javnosti sa potrebnim veštinama i znanjem, otuda će im ova obuka omogućiti da proizvode uticajne priče koje mogu doprineti informisanijim javnim raspravama i na kraju dovesti do promena politika koje štite i promovišu digitalna prava na Balkanu.

Ko se može prijaviti?

Balkanska mreža za istražno novinarstvo (engleski BIRN) poziva novinare sa Kosova da se prijave na trodnevnu obuku o izveštavanju o kršenjima digitalnih prava.

Kako se možete prijaviti?

Da bi se prijavili, zainteresovani novinari treba da pokažu interesovanje za digitalna prava, imaju prethodno novinarsko iskustvo i da pokažu aktivan angažman u oblasti digitalnih prava. Komisija za procenu će ocenjivati prijave i odabrati deset novinara koji će učestvovati na obuci.

Za prijavu, pošaljite sledeći obrazac za prijavu zajedno sa Vašim CV-om i motivacionim pismom na email adresu [email protected]  najdalje do 19. maja 2023. godine u 17:00h po centralno-evropskom vremenu, sa naslovom: Obuka za izveštavanje o digitalnim pravima KOSOVO.

Gde?

Obuka će se održati u Brezovici, Kosovo, od 26-28 maja, 2023. godine. Organizatori će u potpunosti pokriti putne troškove i troškove smeštaja za odabrane učesnike. Radni jezici obuke će biti albanski i engleski.

Šta očekivati?

Obuka će odabranim novinarima pružiti osnovne veštine i znanje da efikasno istražuju i izveštavaju o kršenjima digitalnih prava u tehnološkom okruženju koje se stalno menja. Obuka će se baviti različitim aspektima izveštavanja o digitalnim pravima, uključujući i identifikovanje i prikupljanje primera kršenja digitalnih prava, kategorizaciju prekršaja i izveštavanje o individualnim slučajevima i rasprostranjenijim trendovima.

Program obuke će biti fokusiran na multimedije, savremene alate i moderne novinarske pristupe kao što je istraživanje otvorenog izvora, data novinarstvo, provera činjenica i prekogranične saradnje. Obuka u Brezovici će pružiti vredne obrazovne uvide i mogućnost povezivanja sa kolegama novinarima i stručnjacima koji rade u oblasti digitalnih prava.

Jedinstvena mogućnost nakon obuke

Po završetku obuke, novinari će imati mogućnost da predstave svoju priču BIRN-u. Odabrani novinari će dobiti mentorstvo na poslu i finansijsku podršku za istraživanje i primenu svojih novostečenih veština kako bi implementirali svoje ideje u slučajevima koji uključuju kršenja, blokiranje sadržaja, filtriranje, manipulacije i propagandu u digitalnom okruženju.

Ukratko

ROK ZA APLICIRANJE: Pošaljite obrazac za prijavu zajedno sa Vašim CV-om i motivacionim pismom na email adresu [email protected]  najkasnije do 19. maja 2023. godine, u 17:00h po srednje-evropskom vremenu sa naslovom: Obuka za novinare za izveštavanje o digitalnim pravima KOSOVO.

DATUMI OBUKE: maj 26, maj 27, i maj 28, 2023. godine.

MESTO: Brezovica, Kosovo

 

 

 

 

 

The activity addressed the importance of fact-checking information coming from all sources, emphasizing the significance of addressing fake news and disinformation as measures to prevent gender disinformation and sexism in the virtual era.

The activity included also the screening of a video titled “Gender disinformation”, followed by the presentation and discussion of the panel composed by Kreshnik Gashi, Managing editor of KALLXO.com, Sanam Dolatshahi, Head of the Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at UNMIK, and Kadrije Krasniqi, Project Coordinator at Balkan Sunflowers Kosovo.

The event started with opening remarks of the guest speaker of this event, Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary–General.

Freeman stated: “Studies have shown that 58 per cent of women have declared that once in their life they have experienced gender-based violence and mistreatment through the internet. For the United Nations, the fight against fake news and hate speech is an important battle. We know that the world is a better world, people live better lives when news and information are based on facts.”

Gashi, managing editor of KALLXO.com, spoke about the importance of educating the young on how to debunk fake news and invest their skills in reading properly on the internet by close cooperation with credible media outlets, in order to avoid harming others online but also being victims themselves.

Sanam Dolatshahi, Head of the Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at UNMIK, stated that, “the internet is very important, and we cannot ignore it, but we have to know how to use it properly without harming ourselves or others.”

Kadrije Krasniqi, Project Coordinator at Balkan Sunflowers Kosovo, highlighted the significance of the interest among the young in participating in educative activities because such activities can help youngsters to build their future.

The event was followed by an interactive discussion between the guest speakers and the students.

Young participants were eager to express their views on fake news, disinformation and hate speech. Apart from addressing questions to the panel, they shared personal experiences. A total of 20 students took part in this debate, out of whom 14 were women.

The activity was carried out within the UNMIK-supported project “Addressing disinformation through fact-checking journalism”.

 

 

On March 30, 2023, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – BIRN Kosovo organized an event financed by the EU in Kosovo to commemorate International Fact-Checking Day at the National Library in Kosovo.

Jeta Xharra, Executive Director of BIRN Kosovo, delivered the opening speech. In her address, Xharra emphasized the critical role of journalism in promoting truth and countering disinformation. She also acknowledged the impressive contribution of Kallxo.com to journalism. Xharra highlighted some notable cases when Kallxo’s reporting has resulted in rectification of injustices, formal investigations and the prosecution of public officials and individuals affiliated with organized crime in Kosovo.

Kreshnik Gashi, managing editor of KALLXO.com, presented initial findings from BIRN’s research on fake news sources in Kosovo, revealing that fake news producers can deceive even computers.

“From October 2022 to March 2023, a total of 315 fake information articles were detected, with 33 of them related to Kosovo’s interethnic relations and national security and 30 related to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia,” Gashi said.

The full report is set to be available by the end of May.

The event included keynote speeches from Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, EU Ambassador in Kosovo Tomáš Szunyog and a video address from Lutz Guellner, Head of Strategic Communication, Task Forces and Information Analysis Division.

The Prime Minister spoke about the need for a sociology of television and media anthropology to produce a “vaccine” against the virus of fake news. At the same time, the Head of the EU in Kosovo pledged continued support for Kosovo’s collective fight against disinformation and promote professional journalism.

Guellner addressed the issue of disinformation and manipulation of information as a challenge for societies and emphasized the importance of fact-checkers and journalists in resisting this challenge.

A panel discussion on disinformation in Kosovo and the impact of the war in Ukraine, moderated by Jeta Xharra and featuring a range of media experts from Kosovo, included Xhemajl Rexha from the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Jeton Mehmeti from Independent Media Commission, Brikenda Rexhepi from Koha Group, Faik Ispahiu from Internews Kosova and Budimir Nicic from Medija Centar Cagllavica.

Over 80 participants attended the event in person, with others joining via Zoom. The conference was also attended by a notable roster of public officials and international diplomats, including Arberie Nagavci, Minister of Education, Antonello De Riu, the Italian Ambassador in Kosovo, Danijela Barišić, the Croatian Ambassador in Kosovo, Ronald Goldberg, the Deputy Head of Mission in the Dutch Embassy, Jonas Westerlund, the Ambassador of Sweden, Zeinah Salahi, Head of USAID, SRSG Caroline Ziadeh, Head of UNMIK, etc.

The event underscored the challenges facing the pursuit of truth in a global, complex, and ever-evolving information environment, as highlighted by the recent publication of the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) Stratcom division’s first study on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).

The study revealed that Russia’s FIMI operations target Ukraine, seeking to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity. At the same time, China uses its global media footprint and economic leverage to influence media coverage and developments worldwide.

BIRN has been a member of the International Fact-Checking Network since 2017 and is recognized for its efforts in exposing disinformation and gaining the public’s trust. The organization’s ongoing disinformation study in Kosovo is part of a broader effort to understand and counter various malign influences in the region.

 

 

The workshop was delivered by Labinot Leposhtica, Coordinator for Monitoring of Courts and Law Office at BIRN Kosovo, and focused on the state’s vision for preventing radicalism and violent extremism that leads to terrorism.

“The meeting with regional officials from Pristina – which was composed of participants, such as correctional service officials, probation service officials, social workers, psychologists, municipal officials – was a very good opportunity for the participants to understand the obligations that the new strategy will bring for the prevention of extremism, which foresees the formation of multidisciplinary teams. At the same time, it is an opportunity for these officials to hear about the role, responsibilities and duties of other municipal officials in terms of creating a suitable environment for reintegration and re-socialization,” said Leposhtica.

“Frontline officials are very important in the early identification of the appearance of the first signs of radicalism and at the same time they are also the last address that should offer treatment to radicalized individuals who have moved to other institutional links in the programs of rehabilitation and reintegration,” he added.

Ten representatives from the various institutions participated in the workshop, six of whom were women.

The workshop was the seventh held by BIRN Kosovo as part of the Resilient Community Programme, which is funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, GCERF.

 

 

More specifically, the training focused on the problems that have arisen when reporting on violent extremism and terrorism in Kosovo, including the importance of ethical reporting, media outlets’ hesitation to report on these matters, and how to fight narratives in the battle against violent extremism and terrorism as well as raise public awareness instead of spreading fear, hatred and stigmatization.

The training was delivered by Kreshnik Gashi, editor-in-chief at KALLXO.com, and brought together Mensur Hoti, Director of the Department for Public Safety at the Ministry of Interior, and 11 participants, of whom six were women.

The participants represented different media outlets in Kosovo, including public and national TV, national radios and national portals, such as KOHA, Gazeta Express, Insajderi, Radio Kosova, Demokracia.com and Paparaci, as well students of journalism from the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”.

The training was organized as part of the “Resilient Community Program”, a project that is funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

 

The activity kicked off with the screening of educative reportage “MISINFORMATION IN ECONOMY” and  continued with the presentation and discussion of the panel composed by Kreshnik Gashi, Member of the Kosovo Press Council, correspondent of Reporters without Borders for Kosovo and managing editor of KALLXO.com; Lamir Thaçi, Information Officer at Food and Veterinary Agency of Kosovo; Visar Prebreza, Managing Editor at KALLXO.com

The highlight of the debate raised by the panelists comprised of a set of points starting with the fact that the businesses are among the biggest producers of fake news. Whether the news is that the products are dangerous or successful is part of propaganda aimed at increasing or decreasing the purchase of certain product, they said.

The fake news on the economy circulating in recent years in Kosovo included the possible bankruptcy of banks, the danger from some food products and that the market will lack supplies. The fake news was intended to boost sales and harm competition

With the start of the war in Ukraine, fake news intensified and citizens were bombarded with information of a fuel crisis.

Young participants in the debate were advised on how to verify the accuracy of information by identifying which actors are competent to give information on products and other methods that assure deep research and bring true information.

Participants were instructed to share with their peers the knowledge they reached during this activity of reportage followed by a panel discussion.

Thewactivity was carried out within the UNMIK-supported project “Addressing disinformation through fact-checking journalism”.