Balkan Investigative Reporting Network ( BIRN)

Oct 6, 2023 | birn.eu.com | Eleni Stamatoukou

Journalists selected to participate in BIRN’s digital rights reporting training in Sarajevo, Bosnia, from September 26 to 28, came from various backgrounds. The topics ranged from digital rights and their impact on journalism to multimedia storytelling using contemporary tools, employing the power of open-source intelligence, OSINT, in journalism, techniques, best practices in data journalism, fact-checking and verification techniques for digital rights reporting, among others.

Oct 6, 2023 | birn.eu.com | Eleni Stamatoukou

In the context of the International Journalism Forum 2023, an annual journalistic meeting organised by Greek non-profit iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development), Balkan Insight’s Managing Editor, Dusica Tomovic, presented BIRN’s Engaged Citizen Reporting ECR tool. “ECR tool is the fastest way to get to the real people, as our main scope is to report with them, not only about them,” Tomovic told the audience of journalists and journalism students from Greece and other countries.

Oct 4, 2023 | birn.eu.com | Eleni Stamatoukou

The course was the first in a series of five different training modules that will take place over the next year. The next courses will be held in November, February and April and end with a summer school that will take place in mid-2024 where the journalists attending can acquire skills and techniques that will prepare them for work in journalism. The programme also includes mentoring support. The first training in Mavrovo consisted of a mix of theoretical lectures and practical exercises.

Oct 3, 2023 | birn.eu.com | Eleni Stamatoukou

Dimeska’s work exposed a significant scandal involving a controversial Ukrainian figure, Oleksandr Onishchenko, who managed to obtain a North Macedonian passport despite being under sanctions from both the United States and Ukraine, where authorities sought his extradition. The judges recognised the impact of Dimeska’s investigation, leading to the government revoking Onishchenko’s North Macedonian citizenship. However, no individuals have been held accountable for the scandal as of now.

Oct 2, 2023 | birn.eu.com | Eleni Stamatoukou

The training sessions on environmental advocacy were held as part of the project: “Building Resilience through Environmental Journalism”, which is co-financed by the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US embassy in Tirana and is implemented by BIRN in cooperation with local journalists. The trainings in Shkodra and Kukes attracted 41 civil society representatives and activists from the northern regions of Albania.