PROJECT NAME:

Strengthen the Role and Capacities of Investigative Journalism in Kosovo

SECTOR:

Civil Society

PROJECT VALUE:

Total cost of the project: 525,685.94 EU contribution: 499,401.64

DURATION:

30 months Start Date: 01/02//2025 End Date: 31/07/2027

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – BIRN Kosovo

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

At least 200 journalists and students of journalism who will benefit from the training program, from which they will have the opportunity to gain new skills in investigative reporting on different important topics; 20 journalists will benefit from the Fellowship program; 10 media organisations and outlets will benefit from the sub-granting program which will be selected by a professional jury. Some 47 media outlets that are members of the PCK including other editors, journalists, cameramen, and photographers will benefit from the workshops. The general public: Kosovo citizens struggle to find credible information about current affairs, particularly given the rise of fake news and unprofessional reporting in recent years. They will have more frequent access to information on the targeted topics. At least 1 million citizens will be reached through the activities of the sub-grantees and the fellows reporting in various languages. Decision makers: will benefit from improved transparency, accountability, efficiency and performance by holding public institutions accountable through public pressure from the investigations published and broadcast.

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

Kosovo region

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of the proposed action is to strengthen capacities of the media and NGOs on quality, professional, investigative and fact-checked reporting on democracy, good governance, human rights and European integration topics and expose disinformation and biassed reporting.

PROJECT PURPOSES:

BIRN Kosovo in partnership with the Press Council of Kosovo (PCK) and TV Mreža, a network of local Serbian language TV and online media, aim to strengthen the role and capacities of investigative journalism in Kosovo by bringing local, regional, and international experience in investigative journalism, media development, fact-checking, capacity building and professional experience within the proposed action. The action aims to create legal, institutional, and political conditions that enable better freedom of expression and promote human rights and European integration.

PROJECT STRATEGY:

This action is a natural continuation of the sub-granting and fellowship programs earlier supported by the EU. The action aims to create legal, institutional and political conditions that enable better freedom of expression and promote human rights and European integration. The project is designed under the assumption that local media and journalists in Kosovo need capacity building, training and financial support to be able to research, investigate and report independently and impartially on developments across communities.

ACTIVITIES:

A1: Produce and broadcast 30 in-depth investigative reports, 4 TV debates, 40 articles, 10 solutions journalism stories, and 2 documentaries A2: Organise 9 workshops, 3 training sessions, and a 5-day camp for at least 200 journalists and students of journalism A3: Organise the “Kosovo Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence” A4: Sub-granting program for national and local media in Kosovo

RESULTS:

1) Strengthened media capacities in investigative journalism through training at least 200 journalists and producing 30 investigative reports, 4 TV debates, 40 articles,10 solutions stories, and 2 documentaries; 2) Improved quality of investigative reporting in Kosovo with the publication of over 200 media stories to be produced through the sub-granting and Fellowship programs; 3) Enhanced skills of over 200 journalists, students of journalism faculties and local media outlets in producing investigative and public-interest driven reporting, including know-how on FOI, misinformation, defamation, whistleblowing and copyright laws; 4) Increased cooperation between Albanian, Serbian, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian journalism associations and increased memberships in all communities.