Cross-Border Investigative Journalism Training for the Western Balkans

The Center for Media, Data, and Society at Central European University in Budapest is announcing an open call for journalists in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia with some experience in news reporting and covering complex topics to apply for a unique hybrid-style online and offline course on cross-border investigative journalism.

“Issues investigative journalists cover do not stop at the borders, so why should reporters? Large scale cross-border investigations proved the enormous value of journalistic collaborations when covering trans-national issues. Investigative reporting of this kind, however, requires journalists, traditionally more lone wolves than team players, to acquire specific skills, capacities, mindset and the know-how of various digital tools. This training offers a flexible way for investigative reporters in the Western Balkans and Turkey to develop these skills.” (Attila Mong, Course Director)

The course aims to

  • equip reporters with improved skills of the latest investigative reporting techniques to be able to research, conduct and present region-specific cross-border investigations;
  • integrate technology/multimedia approach for investigative research, documentation, internal organization, (multimedia) storytelling and data visualization;
  • help journalists minimize their risks by providing basic legal knowledge, and digital and physical security techniques;
  • prepare journalists to collaborate regionally on cross-border topics with an improved regional approach and network.

The course will

  • feature top-level journalists as instructors with experience in cross-border investigations both from the region and from other parts of Europe;
  • mix theory and methods with hands-on, practical approach for a complex learning experience;
  • deliver content in a wide range of forms and formats including readings, exercises, case studies, best practices, expert coaching, interactive expert feedback, individual and group assignments, in text and multimedia formats;
  • include the possibility of funding for teams of participants to work on specific cross-border investigations, with the goal of producing and publishing these investigations;
  • facilitate participants` learning experience by combining the online course with an offline training, and by ensuring that the online components remain available for further use after completion of the course.

The course will start with an intensive training in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 19-20, 2020, followed by eight weeks of top-level online instruction. (Please keep in mind that, due to the Covid-19 situation, the original location of the training - Budapest, Hungary - had to be changed). For a more detailed description of the course, please click here. Learn more about the instructors here. 

“I found the course a tremendous opportunity. The mentors of the online sessions were very practical, while during the offline training I learnt a lot of essential information and developed new knowledge. What was great about this opportunity is that I made a lot of contacts and networking. I found an opportunity to write a cross-border article and also a partner during the course. This format gave me the confidence to implement new techniques immediately, in contrast to my past failed attempts. I didn’t just learn ‘how’ to write – ‘what’ and ‘why’ also became much clearer.” (Arlis Alikaj, investigative journalist, Albania, participant of the first round of the training)

Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their investigative ideas for grants offered by BIRN Hub, and if accepted they will receive assistance and mentorship for their research.

The article Rights Denied: Albanians in Greece Face Long-Term Limbo by Madeleine Speed and Arlis Alikaj, published by Balkan Insight, was produced with the help of this grant. You may read it here. 

Successful participants will receive a professional certificate from the Central European University, signed by the Director of the Center for Media, Data and Society and verifiable for employers.

The course is free.

Accommodation and travel costs related to the training in Budapest will be covered by the program.

Candidates must possess a strong command of English, written and verbal. 

HOW TO APPLY?

Application deadline: september 15, 2020

If you need more information, please send an email to cmds@ceu.edu.

The course is organized in the framework of the Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey project, which is implemented by BIRN Hub in partnership with Thomson Media gGmbH (TM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Central European University (Center for Media, Data and Society at CEU), the Media Association of South-East Europe (MASEE), the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG), the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers in Macedonia (SSNM), BIRN Albania and BIRN Serbia.

The project is funded by EuropeAid/European Commission through its Regional Training and Support Program to Improve Quality and Professionalism in Journalism.

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