NETWORK Annual Report 2018
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is a network of non-governmental organisations promoting freedom of speech, human rights and democratic values in Southern and Eastern Europe. Balkan Investigative Reporting Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and accurate and relevant information Network is a network of non- Serbia, while the Network is editorially and creating opportunities for them to governmental organisations also present in Greece, Bulgaria, participate in democratic processes. promoting freedom of speech, human Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, rights and democratic values in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Through high-quality reporting Southern and Eastern Europe. Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. and by creating a pool of skilled journalists, BIRN examines and BIRN has developed a specific While the country organisations scrutinises key processes, steers network structure that includes local address local needs, BIRN debates and provides the public with independent organisations, gathered Hub, registered in Bosnia and impartial and reliable information. around an umbrella organisation Herzegovina, also implements – Balkan Investigative Reporting regional and international programs. The BIRN Network also monitors Regional Network (BIRN Hub) – a BIRN Hub brings extensive expertise and advocates for the transparency structure that has the advantage to journalists in post-communist and and accountability of public of combining local, country-based post-conflict societies, mainly through institutions and enables civil society expertise with unique regional sharing the accumulated knowledge organisations, CSOs and citizens to cooperation. from the Western Balkan region. influence decision-makers.
BIRN has local organisations in BIRN strives to empower people Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to access their rights by providing TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 Foreword
6 Summary
16 Social and political context; media freedom in the region
19 People have increased access to accurate information
44 People have increased influence on democraticprocesses
57 Closing remarks FOREWORD
tate capture, the rise of pressure on journalists, we brought level of media trust. Despite the hostile authoritarianism, weakening uncompromised coverage of the main environment, we were determined in Sof democratic institutions, developments in South and Eastern our mission to hold power accountable assaults on journalists and human Europe providing impartial and reliable and citizens informed through high- rights groups, self-censorship and information. The media landscape is quality journalism. protests – these are the topics you changing on a rapid scale, not just in could read most often on our flagship our part of Europe, but on a global Our hard work was rewarded as our website Balkan Insight during 2018. scale - disinformation, surveillance, readers were coming back to us in Amid the rise of the above mentioned pressure on media workers, even record numbers – we received 3.4 negative trends and continuous killings, financial challenges and low million visitors in 2018 on Balkan 5
Insight, while more than 8 million Our governments believe that the autocrats cooperate and their corrupt people visited our local websites. Our future is turning back to the past, we businesses go beyond borders, we articles were republished 40 000 times believe that with acknowledging the turned to alliances too – creating and in some of the most prominent articles past we are building a better future. nurturing partnerships not just with around the world from Guardian, New While our governments appointed media outlets alike, but also civil York Times to BBC, Suddeutsche war criminals to hold public offices, society organisations, academia and Zeitung, der Standard, but also in the we gave space to hear voices of other institutions sharing our vision region thanks to our local partners N1, the victims – we reported from war and values of democratic societies. Danas, Vreme, Vijesti, Koha, Tema, crime trials, wrote about reparations, As for the next year, we are keeping Faktor and many others. Last year, memorialization, lack of accountability the track of quality and investigative our journalists received eight prizes and prevailing impunity for the gross journalism, powered with new tools, for their work, while we shared our violations of human rights that took new regions, new colleagues and knowledge and skills with almost 800 place in the 1990s. partners, but with the old message: people who attended our trainings don’t copy-paste, investigate! and workshops. Beyond numbers, There is growing pressure on media our stories led to an opening of an in our region, as reported by our international inquiry, corruption cases colleagues in Reporters without Marija Ristic were sent to court, charges for the Borders and Freedom House, but there Regional Director of Balkan Investigative abuse of office were filed, officers were is also a need for more credible and Reporting Network suspended and files were open. quality journalism. At the time when 2018 BIRN Network Annual Report SUMMARY
he media situation in the seven in, noting “election irregularities, by providing the public with reliable South East and Eastern Europe legal harassment and smear campaigns information through high-quality Thas become increasingly dire against independent journalists.” investigative journalism, making over the past year. Many governments democratic processes accessible to the in the region moved to control the In such an environment, only a people through monitoring, debates independent media and curb basic well-informed public can actively and cooperation with civil society, freedoms, which was rightfully noted participate in democracy and demand while simultaneously working to by the Reporters without Borders’ 2019 accountability from governments. improve its own capacities and World Press Freedom Index - Serbia The Balkan Investigative Reporting organisations alike. fell 14 places, Moldova 10 and Albania Network aims to make this possible 7
In 2018 BIRN and its affiliates published tens of thousands of articles, shared the stories of marginalised Visitors to groups and fought for greater government transparency, all while 4,000.000 training journalists both within the 3,500.000 Network and beyond to ensure the 3,000.000 continued strength of the voices that 2,500.000 speak for democracy. 2,000.000
1,5000.000 Even though the grip on independent media by governments and their 1,000.000 powerful friends grew bigger, so 500.000 did our visitors and subscribers. 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 BIRN’s regional English-language Web portal, Balkan Insight, had more than 3,380,000 visitors in 2018—1.1 million more than in 2017. BIRN HUB from corruption to war crimes trials to times in other publications. Through published more than 3,000 news pieces environmental issues, and these articles our local publications, we reached and 700 premium articles on topics were quoted or republished 40 000 more than 8 million people. 8
BIRN by the Numbers Content Released in 2018
Balkan Insight BIRN Albania BIRN BiH pieces in various news stories related news pieces 1,791 1,835 3,000 formats, including news, to war crimes, corruption, photo and video stories, organized crime, terrorism, etc. 700 premium articles features, interviews, etc.. Multiple documentary films.
BIRN Kosovo BIRN Macedonia BIRN Serbia 24,300 articles on More than 300 articles 44 investigative stories. Kallxo.com focusing on corruption, public procurement, Multiple documentary films. 134 fact-checking articles transparency and more on Krypometer
65 televised debates
60 articles analysing expenditures of PM’s office 9
The Network’s regional outlets each published thousands of articles of their own and for their work BIRN journalists received eight awards from various organisations and publications.
Beyond the numbers, however, lies the deeper story of BIRN’s fight to protect civil liberties and tell the stories of marginalised groups in the Western Balkans and beyond. A series of joint investigations with the BBC, including a television and radio documentary, pushed Facebook to take down at least 14 pages linked Award for BIRN Serbia movie “The Dark Shadow of Green Energy,” received at Green Fest to “Christian militant” organisation in Belgrade Knights Templar International. BIRN’s local organisations in Serbia small hydropower plants on local the best Serbian film at the Belgrade and Albania produced documentaries communities; “The Dark Shadow International Green Culture Festival. about the devastating impact of of Green Energy” was awarded as 10
BIRN continued to share the voices recommendations for further work in BIRN had some of its most tangible of marginalised and vulnerable the dealing with the past in the region. impacts in the fight against corruption communities in the region. In the past A database called The Last Despatches and for government transparency. year, BIRN Kosovo worked to change shared forgotten stories of journalists BIRN journalists sent hundreds of laws on inheritance that make it difficult who lost their lives during the fall Freedom of Information requests for women to claim the property. The of Yugoslavia, sending a powerful and reported on asset declarations, Balkan Transitional Justice team reported message about the importance—and government vehicles and appointments on victims of war and wartime rape, the bravery—of those who risk their to government positions. BIRN accountability for war crimes, regional lives, to tell the truth. Kosovo published more than 24,300 cooperation and legacy of the ICTY. articles on its online anti-corruption Meanwhile, BIRN Bosnia and platform, and BIRN Bosnia conducted Throughout the year, BIRN pushed the Herzegovina monitored and reported an award-winning investigation into a region to confront and move past the on the wars’ legal legacy. As the only corrupt football goal supplier. trauma of war. At a regional conference media organisation present at war called “After the ICTY: Regional crime trials before state courts, it has Cooperation, Accountability, Truth and covered 85 war crimes cases, including Justice in Former Yugoslavia,” more four cases tried in the ICTY, and than 140 stakeholders from the region worked with TV Justice to produce engaged in a public debate about the 12 episodes about the importance of legacy of the wars of the 1990s, issuing reconciliation and public dialogue. 11
BIRN’s Work on Transparency and BIRN BiH à Award-winning investigation into a corrupt football Accountability goal supplier. à Worked with Transparency International to track public spending. BIRN Albania à Assessed the transparency of all 39 courts in the nation. BIRN Macedonia à Reported on transparency in asset declaration. à Worked with the government on transparency. à Successfully advocated for shortening the deadline for responses to Freedom of Information requests. à Pressured the government and created a database BIRN Kosovo publishing the expenses of ministers and à Revealed the expenditures of the Prime Minister’s deputies. office after a five-year legal battle. à “Increasing civic oversight on public money spending in Kosovo through publicly beneficial investigative reporting,” an initiative aimed at BIRN Serbia increasing oversight of public spending. à Worked with the Open Government Partnership à Worked with the Tax Administration to increase and the Ministry of Culture and Information to oversight. increase transparency. 12
After five long years, BIRN Kosovowon suppression, the organisation must such as the Balkan Fellowship for a court case and released the ensure the continued existence of a Journalistic Excellence, provided expenditures of the Prime Minister’s group of highly-skilled reporters who support and mentorship to investigative office. BIRN Kosovo also worked with can hold governments accountable. To journalists throughout the region. the government’s Tax Administration this end, the Network trained close to BIRN Hub also successfully launched (TAK) to give civil society more 800 journalists in the past year through its new fellowship program Resonant oversight over public institutions. a variety of programs. Voices Initiative that aims to tackle the BIRN Serbia worked with the Open rise of political extremism in Europe. Government Partnership to create BIRN Hub worked with the an action plan for the government, International Federation of Journalists BIRN’s local members were no less successfully pushing to include to train journalists from public active in 2018. BIRN Kosovo trained programmes to improve the Register of broadcasters, an initiative that or helped other institutions train more the Media and increase transparency in included a workshop on programme than 500 journalists and students of co-financed media. The Ministry of development. BIRN Hub also held its journalism in subjects such as social Culture and Information has consulted annual Summer School of Investigative media, investigative journalism and BIRN for assistance with implementing Reporting and started developing election monitoring. BIRN Macedonia the plan. BIRD, a successor to the BIRN and Albania conducted their training, Despite these successes, BIRN refuses Source database that will serve as an while BIRN Serbia provided support to rest on its laurels. In order to invaluable resource for investigative and training to two national and six continue fighting corruption and media stories. Several funding initiatives, local online media platforms. 13
Partnership
BIRN’s Work to Train Journalists and Local CSOs 14
BIRN has worked to strengthen local video production, data-driven Reporters without Borders describes civil society organisations as well, journalism, Google Analytics and how Albanian journalists were recognising their crucial role in giving journalistic techniques and mobile “subjected to insults, death threats citizens a voice in public life. BIRN journalism. Fifteen participants from and legal proceedings designed Hub held training for its partner the Network’s assorted organisations to intimidate and deter them from organisation Center for Investigative participated in a four-day leadership investigating corruption,” while Serbia Journalism in Montenegro while BIRN development programme that taught “has become a place where practising Serbia trained representatives of local skills related to team management, journalism is neither safe nor supported CSOs in using the media to promote coaching and time management. by the state.” the public interest. BIRN Albania held workshops that brought together The past year has seen challenges journalists and CSO representatives, as as well as accomplishments. BIRN well as publishing two media advocacy Albania faced a defamation case and manuals. regulations aimed at controlling the media. BIRN journalists were often Finally, BIRN turned its sights inward targeted in tabloid newspapers, by in 2018, preparing its journalists to politicians and others and labelled as confront the challenges of a changing traitors, spies, foreign mercenaries and media landscape. BIRN journalists subject to harassment both offline and participated in trainings on mobile online. 15
Despite these difficult prospects, the BIRN Network will continue and expand its work in 2019 and beyond. The upcoming Digital Monitoring database will gather reports of online threats and violations of digital freedoms while Reporting Democracy will track populism and authoritarian tendencies across the continent. Our Transitional Justice Initiative is expending beyond the Balkans, to Ukraine and elsewhere.
BIRN’s journalists will continue their determined, principled and high-quality reporting, holding BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina was covering the retrial of Srebrenica commander Naser governments accountable and sharing Oric when he was acquitted. Citizens were in front of the court on November 30. stories about the past, present and future of the Balkan countries. In to make informed and impactful values of their nations and the future doing so, they will enable the public decisions about government, the of the region as a whole. Social and Political Context; MEDIA FREEDOM IN THE REGION
egional and international in July 2019, states that, apart from the to account for the recent “backsliding” tensions, internal political tensions between political actors in the in the Western Balkans, the most Rquarrels, stagnating region, the European Union is facing prominent is the relatively low level of economies and worsening public “geopolitical competition in the region economic development in the region, services—this is, in short, the outlook from China, Russia and Turkey.” The the impact of Russia’s geopolitical of the Balkans in 2018. report also stresses that citizens are influence and the absence or failure of unsatisfied with the “post-communist EU-mandated reforms and clear EU “Western Balkans to 2025: A brighter transition after 1989” and have low guidance. future or permanent marginalisation?,” trust in political institutions. Among a report published by The Economist the explanations offered in the report 17
The media situation in the region where BIRN operates also continues to be prevailingly negative, with slight differences among the countries. A report by the US non-profit organisation Freedom House, “Freedom in the World 2019,” downgraded Serbia to the status of a “partly free” country due to the decline in the country’s democracy. Montenegro also came under strong criticism. Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania all maintained their “free” status. Macedonia and Kosovo showed The announcement of BIRN Kosovo’s Human Rights Awards, part of its Human Rights minor improvements and Bosnia and Reporting Award Competition Herzegovina showed a minor decline, while Albania maintained its “partly viable media, to strengthen skills of in particular. It also works towards free” status. journalists and to provide citizens with more approachable and accountable the reliable, in-depth information they public institutions, and towards In such a context, the BIRN Network cannot find elsewhere, paying attention building partnerships with grass-root strives to contribute in building more to marginalised, vulnerable groups movements and CSOs. 18
It is important to stress that in 2018 mentoring, technical and financial BIRN started preparing and, in 2019 support and publishing. realising, projects that significantly broaden the scope of its activities Besides, BIRN has made important to cover Ukraine and the Central steps towards strengthening the internal European countries. It has also started capacities of other media CSOs—both to train journalists and editors of management and editorial—which public service broadcasters to build has proven to be a successful model more independent and professional for strengthening smaller independent newsrooms. In 2018, BIRN Hub’s media organisations. In its upcoming three-year project “Strengthening five-year strategy, BIRN strives to Quality News and Independent have, as one of its core pillars, the Journalism in the Western Balkans and empowerment of independent CSOs Turkey” was granted funds through in terms of management, editorial, an open call for grant proposals by the administration and fundraising. European Commission. The program aims to enhance media trust among citizens and create a safe environment for journalists to produce independent news content through training, People have increased access to ACCURATE INFORMATION
BIRN informed In 2018, the achievements of In 2018, the BIRN Network received the public and the Network in this field have eight awards for its journalistic 1 steered public been remarkable, measured both work in the anti-corruption sphere, quantitatively and qualitatively: environmental issues, rights of children debate with audience reach, quotations, social and inter-ethnic relations. special focus on media engagement, awards received, corruption, facing the impact created, partnerships the past, access to formed, participation in the national justice and media and international media initiatives, freedom debates and trainings. 20
Throughout 2018, BIRN’s web In the reporting period, BIRN and editorial team worked on continued to inform vast audiences developing a new website for its in the WB region and abroad by regional publication Balkan Insight. producing over 700 premium articles The website, launched in February and 3,000 news pieces on Balkan 2019, not only has a new design and Insight and generating a record of 8.5 functionality but also better presents million page views. In 2018, Balkan the thematic areas that its multinational Insight had a record of 87.7% growth team covers. In 2018, the website had in new visitors to the website. 3,380,000 visitors (a growth of over Balkan Insight was quoted and 1.1 million compared to 2017), 2,837 republished in numerous regional and international republications (compared worldwide publications, including to 1,706 in 2017 and 421 in 2016) the New York Times, Washington and 8,097 regional republications. Post, Independent, BBC, Telegraph, BIRN, in cooperation with BBC UK, investigated Jim Dowson, who has been At the level of the whole Network, Guardian, Wired, Al Jazeera English, called Britain’s “most influential” far- including both Balkan Insight and NY Post, Politico, Media freedom right activist by an anti-racism group. our local publications, BIRN had page of the Council of Europe, EU Several months later, Facebook took down at least 14 pages identified in this 40,000 republications and quotations Observer, Radio Free Europe, Tokyo investigation. in regional and international media Times, Euronews and derStandard. outlets, compared to 37,906 in 2017. 21
Through the BIRN programme “Paper in October, Facebook took down at public knowledge and awareness Trail for Better Governance,” BIRN least 14 pages identified in the BIRN about transitional justice processes worked alongside some of the most and BBC collaboration is linked to and their impact on reconciliation and important international media the Knights Templar International, a intercultural dialogue. Furthermore, organisations in the past year, such as “Christian militant” organisation active through the project BIRN engaged Al Jazeera, the Guardian and the BBC, in the Balkans. civil society actors and journalists creating tangible impact with a wide in the promotion of more effective reach. In cooperation with BIRN, the BIRN Hub’s Balkan Transitional transitional justice strategies. BBC aired on May 1 television and Justice (BTJ) regional journalism radio documentaries focusing on “the network is the only multi-national invisible man of Britain’s far-right”— team in the Balkans that continuously Jim Dowson—and his activities in reports on war crime trials and Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Kosovo: transitional justice processes in the “Is this Britain’s most influential far- post-Yugoslav countries. In 2018, the right activist?” Additionally, BIRN BIRN team produced 767 articles in released a follow-up investigation, English and 2,301 articles in BCHS, focusing on how Dowson and a Albanian and Macedonian, while the network of far-right groups operate in content was republished 4,600 times in Serbia: British Nationalist Trains Serb regional and international publications. Far-Right for ‘Online War.’ As a result, The coverage contributed to increased 22
BIRN also organised four stakeholder As a result of both stakeholder the institutions of Croatia, Bosnia meetings, in Zagreb, Sarajevo, meetings and the regional conference, and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. Belgrade and Pristina. These meetings BIRN produced a report called “After The report includes recommendations served as a platform for discussion the ICTY: Regional Cooperation, for the improvement of regional on the regional perspective regarding Accountability, Truth and Justice in cooperation on transitional justice prosecutions of those responsible the Former Yugoslavia.” The report issues to the governments in the region, for war crimes committed during was sent to 100 addresses, including as well as to the European Union. the wars in former Yugoslavia. The participants were members of the judiciary, international organisations, local civil society organisations, journalists, history professors, human rights activists, etc. As a follow-up, BIRN organised a regional meeting in Sarajevo that gathered 140 relevant stakeholders to discuss challenges that Western Balkan societies are facing after the closure of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Balkan Transitional Justice’s regional conference in Sarajevo highlights problems with Yugoslavia. regional cooperation in war crimes prosecutions. 23
BIRN Albania is focused mainly Bogdani and Besar Likmeta. One on exposing cases of corruption, year later, on June 2018, the Tirana impunity, organised crime and abuse District Court dismissed the claim of power of high-level officials, as of “moral anguish” brought by a well as supporting civil society’s judge and his wife against BIRN actions advocating for human rights, Albania. The presiding judge, Astrit environmental issues and media Faqolli, said the repeated failure freedom. The organisation produced of the plaintiffs to show up was 1,791 journalistic pieces during making a “mockery of the court” and 2018, including investigations, dismissed the case after almost 12 analysis, features, interviews, news months and 11 hearings. Although pieces, photo and video stories the case was dismissed, the plaintiffs and articles translated from Balkan have appealed to reopen it from the Insight and Project Syndicate. beginning in the Tirana Appeals After a series of investigations on Court, where Gjin Gjoni also presides A poster for BIRN Albania’s documentary an unjustified wealth of judges, in as a judge. Free Flow June 2017 Appeal Court Judge and HCJ member Gjin Gjoni opened a defamation case against BIRN Albania and journalists Aleksandra 24
BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to conduct monitoring and reporting activities from the courts in BiH in cases of war crimes, organised crime and corruption and terrorism. In 2018 journalists monitored 85 war crimes cases before the Court of BiH, including the four remaining cases tried before the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague. The organisation published 1,835 news stories, including texts related to war crimes, corruption, organised crime and terrorism. BIRN BiH also BIRN BiH journalists receive an award from ACCOUNT, an anti-corruption network in BiH, produced and aired 12 TV Justice for the best multimedia investigation into corruption episodes about the importance of celebrated the 100th Edition of “TV BiH was awarded "Best multimedia reconciliation and dialogue among the Justice.” For its investigative story into investigation into corruption" by the general public; 22 outlets broadcast the a Bosnian football goal supplier that ACCOUNT, an anti-corruption programme across the country and via used forged safety documents, BIRN network in BiH. satellite signal. In 2018, BIRN Bosnia 25
BIRN Kosovo published 24,300 and policy-making objectively and the PM’s office. From July through articles on its online anti-corruption professionally. BIRN Kosovo also September 2018, BIRN analysed all the platform, Kallxo.com. This includes won a five-year-long case demanding data from the invoices and published news, long analyses, in-depth transparency of Kosovo’s institutions; a series of about 60 articles revealing investigative papers and fact-checking the case revealed the expenditures of how the public money was spent. articles. BIRN Kosovo’s editorial team investigated and published a total of 134 articles on Krypometer, its fact-checking platform. Additionally, BIRN Kosovo produced a total of 65 highly watched televised debates and investigations aired on public broadcaster RTK, hosting 121 guests, panellists and debaters. BIRN Kosovo informed the public and steered public debate by publishing investigative analyses and reporting on important political, economic and social issues, In January, BIRN Kosovo invited citizens to report the pollution tackling topics like corruption, public they saw in their hometowns by sending photos or videos to its procurement, human rights, justice portal Kallxo.com. 26
BIRN Macedonia published over 300 articles in 2018, following the work of public institutions and revealing information that would have otherwise remained unreported. The stories focus on issues such as corruption, public procurement and transparency of government institutions. Also, BIRN has continued to focus on controversial media outlets linked with Hungarian president Viktor Orban, Russia’s name dispute with Greece, and on exposing wrongdoings and official abuse of power.
BIRN Macedonia journalists receive an award for investigative reporting 27
In 2018, BIRN Serbia published N1 news channel. It was praised well as in Belgrade at Green Fest and 44 investigative stories revealing for its high production standards in Novi Sad at Doc Fest. corruption in the construction and documentary approach. Based business, analysing judicial and on its success, BIRN was offered Along with its journalistic work, BIRN criminal files of the most notorious a continuation of cooperation on has contributed to the improvement criminals in Serbia and exposing documentary production. of media freedom, media reforms wrongdoings in education and health and media sustainability through its care. A BIRN Serbia documentary was BIRN Serbia and the WWF co- ongoing programmes. aired on TV N1 in November 2018 produced “The Dark Shadow of Green that chronicles the events from 2008 Energy,” a regional documentary about preceding the forming of the ruling small hydropower plants and their Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). effects on local communities. It was The documentary was also aired on awarded the best environmental various local TV stations in Serbia documentary in Serbia in 2018 and and TV Vijesti in Montenegro, and was aired on TV Al Jazeera, as well as it was among the ten most viewed on other TV stations across the region programmes on TV N1 in 2018. So (Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro). far, the documentary has 120,740 Besides, it was screened in Podgorica views on BIRN Serbia’s YouTube and Kotor at the Fast-Forwards Festival Channel and 229,000 on the TV of engaged documentaries, as 28
In 2018 the BIRN BTJ team because of official negligence or The stories about how and where they developed and published a disinterest, or sometimes because were killed are followed by relevant multimedia investigative project their deaths still raise questions documents and testimonies, including called The Last Despatches—an about people with connections to interviews with family members and online database about the 139 the highest levels of power in the friends, court documents, media reports journalists killed during wars in Balkans today. etc. post-Yugoslav countries. Amid the hysteria of nationalist unrest, journalists were seen by some as enemies who reported inconvenient truths. Some were killed while reporting from the front lines of the conflicts, while others were gunned down in the streets of their hometowns or killed in their own offices. BIRN’ s Last Despatches series tell the stories of some of these reporters and highlights how attempts to secure justice for them Around 140 journalists were killed during and after the 1990s wars in the Balkans. BIRN’s have not yet succeeded—mainly Last Despatches series tells the stories of some of these reporters 29
BIRN Albania was actively involved stopped due to a lack of regulatory around 8,000 euros and even closure in 2018 in lobbying against two framework in support of such procedures. of websites. Four international media government-sponsored initiatives that The second attack was initiated by the freedom organisations sent an open letter posed a serious threat to media freedom office of Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi to Rama demanding that he withdraw in the country. The first attack against Rama, which proposed changes in two the proposals, which they believe will the independent media was undertaken laws that would implement registration “chillingly” affect online media. “Media by AKEP (Electronic and Postal of online media and the policing of news Ownership Monitor Albania”, jointly Communications Authority), which in content for a variety of reasons, including created by BIRN Albania and Reporters October 2018 issued a public “blacklist” “biased” news, news that “damages without Borders (RSF), shed light on the of 44 websites that included BIRN public morals” and “publications that Albanian media market by disclosing Albania’s Reporter.al online portal. The can incite penal offences.” Failure to who owns and ultimately controls mass AKEP gave websites a 72-hour deadline uphold the law would result in fines of media. to register with tax officials or be shut down. BIRN reacted immediately to this initiative by publishing several articles and contacts with AKEP, different partners and human rights organisations in the country and abroad. A few days later, OSCE and Civil Rights Defenders condemned the initiative, which was The Media Ownership Monitor, created by BIRN Albania 30
In October 2018, BIRN Macedonia organised an international media sustainability conference where approximately 100 participants from the region and beyond gathered to discuss the modern challenges digital media is facing and propose models for sustainability. Speakers said sustainability for quality media remains a big challenge in the region, given the small size of markets, low advertising rates, political pressures and other factors. International experts discussed approaches to rebuilding trust in journalism and alternative models The BIRN Macedonia team interviews Wouter Plomp, the Dutch ambassador to Macedonia, about the significance of reliable and independent media and the importance of financing media. The conference of media sustainability in the digital age was a unique opportunity to address the challenges faced by modern sustainability models and challenges was dedicated to rebuilding trust digital outlets, from the dangers of for professional reporting in the in the media by exploring a mix of tabloids taking over audience shares to digital age. A great deal of attention international and local experiences. 31
BIRN Serbia in 2018 continued scrutiny on misuse of public funds, non-transparent media funding and ownership and (self) censorship mechanisms, revealing the alarming state of the Serbian media market. BIRN reported on the media scene in Serbia, disclosing censorship and the misuse of public funds. Within the project Public Money for Public Interest (PM4PI), a consortium led by BIRN developed the user-friendly platform Kazi/Trazi sta te zanima (Telling/ Asking for Your Interests). This unique info-hub offers a tailor-made approach for different stakeholders and provides diverse information regarding public interest in local informing, media financing, (self) censorship and local actions throughout Serbia. BIRN journalists present a report on declining media freedom in Serbia 32
Journalists have improved skills 2 in investigative and specialised reporting
Journalists visit RTS as part of an investigative reporting workshop for journalists from public broadcasters
In 2018, as in previous years, the investigate and report on important issues BIRN Network continued a range of using both proven journalistic techniques initiatives related to training journalists and cutting-edge technologies. In total, and improving their skills. In doing so, throughout the region, BIRN trained BIRN strengthens their capacities to close to 800 journalists. 33
In 2018 BIRN Hub, along with its other training activities, broadened its scope of work in the field by starting to train journalists from the public broadcasting media through the project “Technical Assistance to Public Service Media in the Western Balkans” (2018-2020). BIRN’s role in the program, which is led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), is providing coaching for investigative journalists in programme development, research, preparation and production. A workshop dedicated to The opening seminar of the investigative journalism workshop for journalists from public broadcasters, in Belgrade coaching for programme development was held in October 2018 in Belgrade. day regional investigative reporting conduct their investigative stories, Thirteen journalists from seven public workshop. With the guidance of journalists were trained in how to broadcasters in the Western Balkans experts, the participants started to conceive, design, conduct, deliver (RTSH, BHRT, RTK, MRT, RTCG, prepare story proposals and identify and publish effective journalistic RTV, RTS) participated in a three- topics for future investigations. To investigation. 34
As in previous years, the participants designed to follow all the new trends received training from top-notch in journalism, like using geospatial editors from Reuters, the New York research in investigative reporting, Times, Bellingcat, OCCRP and others how to find and use satellite imagery, (the full list can be found here). This how to analyse visual content, how to School curriculum was carefully produce a podcast and so on.
Czech investigative journalist Pavla Holcova and Maltese media freedom advocate Matthew Caruana Galizia spoke about threats to journalists in Europe at the BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting
BIRN Hub’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2018 was held in Poiana Brasov, Romania, hosting 29 regional and international journalists. The BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2018 35
In 2018, BIRN Hub started preparing receive a 1000 euro grant. Aside from a new web platform called BIRD— the funding for the stories, selected BIRN Investigative Research Desk. journalists will receive mentorship With BIRD, BIRN will further develop from BIRN’s experienced editorial the existing BIRN Source database team. (containing around 1.5 million [MG1] documents) and will add additional In December, the Call for Resonant new features, like tips for investigative Voices Fellowship was opened for journalists, forums, online support, individuals and teams who will explore The Balkan Investigative Reporting storage for data, additional data sheets the many facets of radicalisation and Network, Commission for International Justice and Accountability and the and more. violent extremism in the EU and Foundation Propulsion Fund in December neighbouring states to help chart a invited journalists, researchers and writers from across Europe to apply for the The Balkan Transitional Justice more secure and inclusive future. Resonant Voices Fellowship programme. team opened in October a call for Ten journalists selected in 2018 grant proposals for journalists from BIRN Hub’s Balkan Fellowship Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, for Journalistic Excellence (BFJE) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia programme pursued in-depth stories and Macedonia for writing in-depth and investigations linked to the year’s pieces on the topic of transitional theme: “Truth”. justice. Ten journalists were selected to 36
They came from Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and Greece. Under the annual topic, they covered a wide range of issues, including stories on corruption, injustices, illegal logging, diaspora politics, the subversion of transparency laws and the exploitation of minorities. Fake news merchants, corrupt officials and political thugs are just a few of the targets in the crosshairs of journalists chosen for the 2018 BFJE. Stories published are available online at Balkan Insight’s BFJE focus page. The Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence 2018 team 37
BIRN Albania has raised the capacities advocacy. Also in 2018, BIRN Albania trainings on investigative journalism, of local journalists on investigative published a Data Journalism Manual election monitoring, effective use of reporting and data journalism through which aims to introduce journalists social media, parliamentary elections three different methodologies: to data-driven reporting techniques and municipal elections, among other formal trainings, on the job training that are essential to contemporary topics. Furthermore, BIRN Kosovo and mentoring and development investigative journalism. held trainings on monitoring gender- of user-friendly manuals. Formal based violence cases. Through the trainings included training local BIRN Kosovo trained over 500 “Support to Civil Society and Media journalists in investigative techniques journalists and journalistic students Initiatives” project, BIRN and its of asset declarations, training on data in 2018, either by direct training partners aim for improvement on journalism in the healthcare sector, or through a partnership with transparency, independence and training on data-driven reporting, other institutions. BIRN Kosovo accountability within the media in training on court and crime reporting continuously emphasizes the need for Kosovo. Through this EU-funded and internal training on mobile video qualitative and sustainable reporting on project, BIRN Kosovo has selected reporting. In 2018, the organisation the country’s challenges in the field of sixteen beneficiaries to develop and published a guide which focuses on politics, economy and EU Integration, publish stories. advocacy through traditional and social and therefore in 2018, it has worked media, along with a second guide that towards its mission of acting as a deals specifically with the various watchdog of public institutions. In uses of photography as a medium for 2018, BIRN Kosovo held various 38
BIRN Macedonia has been working monitoring training, among other for social media and marketing, to on increasing journalistic capacities topics. optimise or in some cases redesign with study visits, trainings, their web pages and to increase their scholarship support and teaching The success of the previous phase of production. skills for video production. They the project enabled BIRN Serbia to were part of the “Investigative continue its programme supporting Through the continuous support that reporting to boost reforms” project, the development of responsible and BIRN has provided over the last two implemented in partnership with the professional online media. For the years, daily newspaper Danas has Centre for Civil Communication. The next two years, BIRN Serbia will grown into one of the most influential organisation awarded grants to four work on raising the capacities of two independent news portals in the region, journalists to work on investigative national portals (Danas and Vreme) reaching more than 5,000,000 visits in stories that combined local and and six local portals (Ozon Pres, January 2019. European experience and case studies; Bujanovacke, Pressek, Zajecar Online, these journalists received training Loznicke vesti, So Info). Support will and mentoring support, along with be provided on the level of editorial, a one-day group workshop. BIRN technical optimisation, social media Macedonia also held study visits to and online marketing. So far, 15 Tirana, Albania, basic investigative journalists of participating portals have journalism training for young been trained, and the project enabled reporters in new media and media portals to engage specialised persons 39
Stop to READ (Regional journalism techniques, online Affirmation of the NGO Sector, Environmental Acts of Devastation) storytelling, multimedia training MANS, Montenegro. is BIRN Hub’s project in cooperation and video and photo editing, as well with local partner CIN Montenegro. as information on domestic and EU Through intensive training, politics in the sphere of environmental international mentoring and an protection. Three journalists have investigative approach, the project has been awarded grants to cover the goal of increasing the capacities of their expenses while carrying out CIN Montenegro, Monitor and other investigations and writing stories on media outlets whose journalists are the environment and Chapter 27 of participating. Within the project, the the EU accession process. Meanwhile, push for investigative stories with an citizens are given insight into the environmental angle began in March environmental threats the country 2018. BIRN, CIN Montenegro and faces and an opportunity to react. Monitor magazine held a training For the story, Local Chiefs’ Financial course in Podgorica in April 2018 for Abuses Blight Montenegrin Costal An award-winning investigation journalists, teaching the investigative Town, a freelance journalist from produced for the project ‘Investigate skills needed to produce stories Montenegro was awarded “best story for ME and EU’ implemented by the Center for Investigative Journalism of covering environmental issues. The using freedom of information requests Montenegro (CIN-CG) and BIRN topics covered included investigative in 2018,” given by the Network for 40
Through the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (BST), a project of the U.S. German Marshall Fund, BIRN Romania published features, investigative stories and podcast episodes about Romania- Moldova relations with a human interest perspective. The foundation of this undertaking was the finding that, despite many historical, cultural, linguistic and economic ties linking Moldova and Romania, most people from both countries still have little knowledge of one another. At the same time, media interest in daily issues is relatively high but often characterised by unethical and unprofessional Since September 2018, BIRN Romania conducted a project aimed at fostering mutual reporting. understanding between the peoples of Moldova and Romania 41
Voices of Victims of war, residents struggling for military operation “Storm,” the fall underreported the preservation of the environment, of the Croatian town of Vukovar, the 3 groups (including minorities and other marginalised and beginning of the siege of Sarajevo, vulnerable groups—such as returnees etc. The BTJ team also deals with marginalised and from war zones, migrants, asylum topics such as impunity for war crimes vulnerable groups seekers and others—continue to be a and its consequences on the victims, and victims of focus of BIRN’s work. missing persons, reparations, gender war) are heard justice, returnees and internally across the region BIRN Hub’s Balkan Transitional displaced persons. Through many Justice Initiative (BTJ) programme cross-regional stories and interviews regularly reports on vulnerable and conducted with war victims, the wider marginalised groups, with special focus public has a chance to hear their voice. on victims of war and victims of wartime rape, being the only programme in the region that regularly monitors issues related to the dealing with the past. TheBTJ journalistic team extensively covers all important dates marking mass human rights violations during the ‘90s, such as the Srebrenica genocide, Croatian 42
To promote the decade-long grassroots struggle of local communities, activists and civil society organisations against hydropower plant projects that threaten the environment, the water supplies of local communities and their livelihoods that are based on sustainable tourism, BIRN Albania produced a 45 minutes long documentary. “Free Flow” chronicles the efforts of local communities, environmental organisations and activists in Albania to halt the destruction of the precious Valbona and Vjosa rivers, protected areas now under The premiere of BIRN Albania’s documentary Free Flow in Tirana threat by the government’s attempts to build numerous hydropower plants have already been given the environmental activists who have stood plants. This is the main challenge for green light by authorities. This timely up against the devastating wave of Albania’s environment in the twenty- documentary presents a resistance hydropower plants in Albania over the first century: 526 destructive hydro movement led by residents and last decade. 43
For many years, BIRN Kosovo Kosovo worked with article 114 of the and organised a roundtable on the same contributed to having people’s voices law, which concerns circumstances issue. In addition, in late 2018, “Life in heard across the region, especially when an individual does not have Kosovo” broadcast a televised program the voices of underreported groups the right to inherit property. This, in on parental leave. This debate tackled like marginalised and vulnerable particular, violates the right of women issues like leave for employed parents, groups, victims of war and corruption, to claim the property. BIRN Kosovo, the length of the paternal leave foreseen communities in Kosovo, women and along with publishing continuous by the law and measures to prevent the youth, among others. Therefore, articles to keep the public informed, discrimination of women in the labour BIRN Kosovo has continued to has also conducted three legal analyses market because of maternal leave. represent the voices of communities in Kosovo, e.g. the Serbian community, the RAE community, women and so on. Through BIRN Kosovo’s project on “Empowering Women through Enhanced Awareness of Women’s Property Rights,” the legal office of BIRN Kosovo has been working on changing the law on inheritance to better represent women and their rights A conference organised by BIRN Kosovo and partners to discuss the role of the to the property. More specifically, BIRN Ombudsperson in Kosovo People have increased influence on DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
Work of public The BIRN programme “Paper Trail analyses and investigations, with over institutions for Better Governance,” with its 500 republications in local, regional and 1 is more investigative cross-border journalistic international media; and increased the work, is contributing to the overall work number of files in BIRN Source database, transparent on making institutions more transparent which now contains 1,316,182 documents. and responsive and responsive. This initiative has Through this project, BIRN has exposed earned several awards in the past years malpractices of the governments of and created an international impact. Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, In 2018, the team sent over 300 FOI Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, the U.S., the requests; published 14 news pieces, U.K., Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. 45
In order to influence the work of public that the majority of these public and public companies in the country. institutions, BIRN Albania has worked institutions have failed to fulfil at least It also allows users to search all in two main directions: first, increasing half of the 50 reviewed indicators, as the announced tenders for vehicle the transparency of courts in Albania; the average level of transparency for all purchases and other expenses and second, monitoring the implementation 39 courts of the country is only 48%. provides information on compliance of freedom of information law in To strengthen investigative work for with procurement procedures. different institutions and enriching better transparency and accountability its online databases. To increase the of public institutions, BIRN Albania transparency and accountability of has continued to publish documents courts, in December 2017 BIRN secured through the investigative Albania developed the methodology process and Freedom of Information for a monitoring assessment of requests in its online database. the level of transparency of all 39 courts at all levels in the country. On In 2018, BIRN BiH presented its January 30th, 2018, BIRN Albania database of official vehicles of Bosnian implemented additional training with institutions and public companies. The 12 regional journalists in Tirana in database contains completed and active order to explain the procedures and tenders for the purchase of official forms to be used during the monitoring. cars in 2018, along with maintenance The findings of the assessment indicate costs of several hundred institutions 46
BIRN Kosovo has continued to spending in Kosovo through publicly create public pressure on institutions beneficial investigative reporting,” by reporting on daily political, BIRN Kosovo focused on public economic and societal affairs and other procurement to increase transparency developments of public interest on its and accountability related to public online media platforms. Therefore, spending at the local level. Within
BIRN Kosovo has influenced changes the framework of the project, aiming Hundreds of activists marched through in municipal governance, the judiciary, to increase civic oversight and Pristina during Kosovo’s second-ever Pride Parade. BIRN Kosovo covered the the private sector, public procurement therefore increase transparency from event and legal framework. In 2018, our public institutions, BIRN Kosovo anti-corruption platform Kallxo. monitored recruitment to state com received 1,318 complains. As positions and managed to stop unfair a result, throughout this reporting processes by reporting the findings. period, citizens were more active in BIRN Kosovo also helped support continuously demanding transparency democratic processes throughout the and accountability on key policy year by monitoring the tenders where processes at the local and central level. corruption is likely to be present in Kosovo. Through the project “Increasing civic oversight on public money 47
BIRN Macedonia has filed 125 and deputies in all ministries. BIRN (CEPRIS). The project is a pioneering FOI requests to over 30 different was among the first organisations in attempt to monitor court cases and institutions and has exposed Macedonia to advocate for shortening mark important trends related to institutions that lack transparency. the deadline for institutional response their conduct, including efficiency, The government invited BIRN on through Open Government partnership transparency and accountability. So far, numerous occasions to provide input meetings and other mechanisms. As a BIRN has developed a methodology on how to increase the government result, the Government announced in for court and media monitoring, as data transparency, and some late 2018 that the period for receiving well as training 15 students of finishing recommendations have been adopted. information through FOI would be years and master studies of law and BIRN regularly applies pressure on shortened from 30 to 20 days. journalism to conduct monitoring. the government and pushes for more responsive institutions, mainly through As a follow-up of the regional project complaints to the commission for FOI. Exercising Freedom of Expression Under pressure following public outcry and Openness of State Institutions in in mid-2017, when BIRN started BiH, Kosovo and Serbia, led by BIRN publishing detailed expenditures of Hub in 2017, BIRN Serbia launched ministers and abuse of public funds, the a project in October 2018 that follows government launched a separate page the work of special prosecutors’ offices on its website in February 2018 where and courts, in partnership with the it publishes total expenses of ministers NGO Centre for Judicial Research 48
BIRN Serbia is a part of the Open integral part of the action plan that was in this process. Moreover, BIRN will, Government Partnership (OGP) officially adopted by the government as part of the consortium of six CSOs, Initiative, a multi-national initiative on December 27 2018. BIRN has assist in drafting a plan for 5 local aiming to make governments more already been consulted by the Ministry municipalities in Serbia, focusing on open, accountable and responsive to of Culture and Information to assist local media policies. citizens. As a member of the state- formed working group, BIRN Serbia pushed for work on transparency in tracing the money spent in the media sector. BIRN proposed and advocated for the incorporation of two new programs: one focused on transparency and publishing data concerning the process of co-financing media content of public importance, and one focused on improving the Register of the Media to provide easier access to information and better transparency of presented data. BIRN’s proposals were accepted BIRN Serbia and more than 40 civil society organisations are calling for the country’s Law on by the working group and became an Personal Data Protection to be amended to better protect the public. 49
People have BIRN bases its work on the premise increased that informed and actively-engaged 2 opportunities to citizens are in a position to be critical of the work of public officials. influence policies and legislation BIRN Hub, through its English- language regional portal (Balkan Insight) and its social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) regularly reports from protests happening across the region in the last several months, notably those in Serbia, Albania and Montenegro. Citizens are thus informed and empowered in their struggles to hold their respective governments accountable. 50
In October 2018, BIRN organised gain insights into where the Western cross-regional cooperation between a regional conference called “After Balkan countries are in the process of major stakeholders, with special the ICTY: Regional Cooperation, confronting the legacies of the wars of emphasis on institutions that are Accountability, Truth and Justice in the 1990s. It also posed two questions. dealing with transitional justice issues the Former Yugoslavia” in Sarajevo. First, what steps need to be taken next? in the region (prosecution offices, The conference opened a floor for a Second, how is it possible to enhance courts, ministries of justice)? discussion of regional cooperation in war crimes prosecutions in the Western Balkans. The event brought together over 140 stakeholders from the region as speakers (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), including policy-makers, governmental and institutional representatives, CSO workers, journalists and media workers, and students of political and media studies. The activity provided a space for public debate, allowing participants to discuss and Balkan Transitional Justice’s regional conference in Sarajevo 51
The main conclusions from the Albanian society: transparency of In order to push for evidence-based conference, as well as from the four judiciary reform and continuous debate on judiciary reform, BIRN regional stakeholder meetings, were reporting on abuses of power. BIRN Albania has continued its work towards published in the form of a report and Albania believes that absence transparency on asset declarations of used for further advocacy regarding of information hinders active, judiciary officials in Albania, as well regional cooperation on war crimes participatory citizenship in doing so, as ongoing reporting of the vetting prosecutions. The report also contains BIRN Albania provided the public processes. recommendations regarding regional with information essential to active, cooperation on transitional justice. It participatory citizenship. Only was sent to more than 100 relevant informed people can make demands, stakeholders in the region, including put pressure on decision-makers local CSOs, academia, international and seek open and accountable organisations and, most importantly, government. In such a context, representatives of institutions BIRN believes that its continuous of Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and reporting on important socio-political Herzegovina and Serbia. The full issues can better inform people and report can be found here. can increase public pressure on the authorities to make changes and In 2018, BIRN Albania focused its deliver results. work on two important topics for 52
BIRN Kosovo signed a memorandum of understanding with Pristina-based think tank Democracy Plus and the Tax Administration of Kosovo, TAK, as part of a project funded by the British embassy in Kosovo to boost public oversight and accountability of public institutions. Through the cooperation agreement, BIRN, Democracy Plus and TAK aim to increase civil society’s overview oversight of tax administration processes, to increase the compliance of public institutions.
BIRN Kosovo is also working on the BIRN Kosovo’s Friday Forums, organised each month since 2015, are events to which OmbudsWatch project, which aims public officials and diplomats are invited to have an open, off-the-record conversations with all BIRN’s staff to educate the public on the role and responsibilities of the Ombudsperson, as well as about their right to contact the Ombudsperson’s office about matters of public importance. 53
CSOs CSOs play a key role in the process of Montenegro, Serbia, Austria, Poland, strengthened effectively addressing public interest Romania, Ukraine, Netherlands, 3 to effectively and linking citizens with decision- Macedonia, Italy, the US, Switzerland, makers. Therefore, BIRN is heavily Croatia, BiH, Moldova and Germany. address public engaged in raising the capacities of All of these co-operations have been interest CSOs, giving them tools and skills to beneficial in terms of the quality address important issues. and impact of stories covered and causes addressed, as well as for the BIRN Hub, through its programmes development of the organisations and projects, cooperates on joint involved. stories with many leading regional and international media outlets, including non-profit investigative media organisations, CSOs and think tanks. These stories include anti-corruption investigations; research, training and advocacy initiatives in the fields of transitional justice; online extremism; and so on. They include organisations from the UK, Hungary, Bulgaria, 54
BIRN Hub held a training for time CIN CG had developed a strategy, between advocacy and propaganda its partner organisation CIN in and BIRN Hub’s role was to guide the to tips and tools for producing and Montenegro, aiming to strengthen its organisation through the steps of the distributing a viral video. These internal and operational capacities. process, provide facilitation throughout publications aim not only to strengthen This was part of BIRN’s strategy the process and produce the first draft the media presence of civil society but of sharing its know-how within of the strategy, to be further developed also to enrich the diversity of voices the Network and with its partner by the organisation itself. and opinions that comment on societal organisations. The first project used issues in local media outlets. Both BIRN Hub’s operations for the In 2018 BIRN Albania published two manuals are part of BIRN Albania’s organisation’s needs assessment and new manuals which aim to give civil efforts to bridge the gap between civil trainings. The trainings took place society and activists the necessary society and the media to strengthen the in 2018 and focused on journalism knowledge to advocate their causes fight against corruption and impunity, and project cycle management. The in the media. The first guide focuses reinforce the rule of law and promote second project focused on the further on advocacy through traditional and the respect of human rights and development of the CIN CG, based social media, while the second guide minorities. on the needs assessment, and—in deals specifically with various uses addition to journalism training and of photography as a medium for mentoring—included BIRN Hub’s advocacy. The manuals cover an array assistance in the development of the of topics crucial to media advocacy, CIN CG’s strategy. This was the first which range from differentiating 55
In addition, BIRN Albania held two As a result, several articles have workshops between journalists, experts been published about donations to and CSOs working on the health sector political parties and the availability and organised crime. More than 25 of public funds for war veterans and journalists and representatives of CSOs the unemployed. Additionally, BIRN engaged in the workshop on healthcare; BiH’s documentary films The“ Silent 17 journalists and representatives of Scream” and “Missing You,” as well CSOs engaged in the workshop on as other material from its Detektor. organised crime. Subsequently, more ba database will be available on Students’ protest in Tirana covered by BIRN Albania than 100 articles and videos were the devedesete.net website that was produced promoting the work of local established by the Association of CSOs, grassroots organisations or History Teachers from the region. The activists. purpose of this portal is to teach the history of the wars of the 1990s in In 2018, BIRN BiH partnered with former Yugoslavia, a period that some Transparency International in Bosnia feel still does not belong to the past on the “Initiative for Increasing and which is remembered in so many Transparency and Responsibility different, but often also conflicting and of Political Parties Financing in mutually exclusive, ways. BiH” to track public spending. 56
Eight CSOs were selected as financial national institutions and how to report in the region—with public institutions and training beneficiaries for the on the transparency of municipalities, serving the interests of political elites creation of open databases on the municipal spending, effects of mines more than those of citizens, and with local level as part of a sub-granting on the environment, the impact of local journalists in many cases cut off from program implemented by BIRN development plans, et cetera. the access to public officials—BIRN in Macedonia and the Centre for Civil a number of cases managed to make an Communication. The aim is to provide BIRN Serbia trained representatives important impact in holding politicians, comprehensive open databases on of CSOs in defining, implementing both from the region and internationally, important social processes and issues and monitoring public interest in local accountable. Also, a number of on the local level, which will serve media, and in the process of financing initiatives, from providing information as a resource for CSOs and a tool for these projects with public funds. BIRN in innovative ways to addressing burning investigative journalists. Two trainings and its partners provided tailor-made issues that concern citizens to giving were delivered to members of these assistance for CSOs in the fields of them a voice in public discourse, have organisations. Initial training was street actions, campaigns, networking, contributed to the capacity of citizens organised for 14 representatives of the advocacy, project management, public to influence decision-making processes. selected eight organisations to teach participation, identifying misuse of Over the years, members of the Network them how to obtain data and how to funding mechanisms, et cetera. have also developed collaborations with design and develop the databases. In the CSOs in the region and internationally, second training, they were taught how Despite the phenomenon which is in many cases helping them advance the to collect data from local, regional or sometimes called ‘institutional capture’ public interest. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Since 2005, BIRN is continuously in the WB and SEE region, and helping us to jointly contribute to providing support to journalists in internationally, has a steady gradual BIRN’s mission. the Western Balkans and SEE region, increase due to Network’s strong boosting their skills, providing them presence on 16 websites. Currently, the We remain determined to maintain with the financial support to tackle organisation’s online presence attracts our independent role in the Western the most pressing issues, and creating over 10 million people worldwide, Balkans and SEE region, which would opportunities for their networking while BIRN’s flagship website www. not be possible without the support from and cross-regional cooperation. At BalkanInsight.com has been the Swedish International Development the same time, the Network has been main source of information to major Cooperation Agency, Rockefeller committed to providing hands-on international organisations and political Brothers Fund, Charles Stewart Mott support and capacity building of local institutions regarding the affairs in Foundation, European Commission, media organisations, assessing their Western Balkan region. ERSTE Foundation, Austrian needs and helping them to boost their Development Agency, Konrad Adenauer effectiveness, strengthening their role We would like to extend our gratitude Stiftung, Open Society Institute, Dutch as an independent watchdog actors. to our partners for recognising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MATRA, Finally, BIRN’s strong presence importance of BIRN’s work and and Robert Bosch Stiftung. 57
BIRN Hub’s Financial Data, 2017/2018
2018 EUR 2017 EUR
Donors contributors 1,819,554 1,940,400 Other income 17,462 13,300
Total income 1,837,016 1,953,700
Personel expenses 87,163 72,797 Services 274,770 285,150 Tax and Contributions 12,337 5,927 Other operating expenses 1,464,794 1,585,658 Depreciation and amortisation 3,635 5,148
Total operating expences 1,842,699 1,954,680
Income over Expenditures -5,683 -980