BALKAN INSIGHT
Mission/Mandate:
”Our Mission is to build and strengthen an interconnected cadre of journalists across the Balkans, probing and analysing key transition issues and the process of European integration for policy-makers and the public at large. BIRN is taking steps towards self-sustainability, while also striving to secure its position as the premier Balkan investigative and analytical journalism organization and addressing the need for objective, quality, sustainable reporting on the region's political, economic and EU integration challenges.” (BIRN Website, http://www.birn.eu.com/en/1/200/5/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
”Balkan Insight is the award winning online publication from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, covering nine countries in the Balkans.” (Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/8548/, accessed on 31 October 2008) ”The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, is a close-knit group of editors and trainers that enables journalists in the region to produce in-depth analytical and investigative journalism on complex political, economic and social themes.BIRN emerged from the Balkan programme of the London-based Institute for War & Peace Reporting, IWPR, in 2005. As part of that process, IWPR’s original Balkans team was entrusted with the task of taking local ownership for that programme and making it sustainable, in the light of the changing realities in the region. BIRN consists of individual member-organisations, registered in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.” (Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/5157/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
Target group:
Objective:
”The BIRN Hub and member-organisations pool their skills, knowledge and resources, seeking in the process to become more self-sufficient, effective and sustainable centres for journalistic excellence, results-oriented training and public dialogue.” (Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/5157/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
BIRN expects „to keep local and international decision makers, stakeholders and general public reliably and objectively informed of key political and economic reform dynamics in Southeast Europe, thus creating a positive context for reform-minded policy and its implementation, as well as investment in the poor economies of the region.” (BIRN Website, http://www.birn.eu.com/en/1/200/7/, accessed on 31 October 2008 )
Funding:
“BIRN is generously supported by the: Dutch Foreign Ministry, Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Balkan Trust for Democracy BTD, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Open Society Institute, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, British Embassy in Sarajevo and Media Development Loan Fund, Inc. BIRN cooperates with the Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE Foundation to run the “Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence."” (BIRN Website, http://www.birn.eu.com/en/1/230/76/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia
Thematic focus: ”BIRN's reports focus on EU integration, post-conflict justice and peace-building, political transformation and democratisation, economic development, international intervention, social trends and regional cooperation.” (Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/5157/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
Reporting methodology:
”Local journalists and analysts are engaged to produce Balkan Insight reports, each of which goes through a rigorous editorial process. By demanding the highest standards of clarity, accuracy and objectivity, editors provide 'on the job' training and guidance to these journalists.” ( Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/5157/, accessed on 31 October 2008)
”In addition, the independent, non-governmental BIRN member-organisations engage in relevant local media development projects. In Bosnia, this means training on war crimes reporting; in Serbia, on minority journalism; and in Kosovo, producing televised debates on current affairs. […] The regional activities of the Network, such as editorial, training, operational and development work, are coordinated through the BIRN “Hub”, registered in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.” (Balkan Insight Website, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/info/5157/, accessed on 31 October 2008 )
Publication cycle:
Reports are published without a fixed publication cycle; a daily news service delivers news regularly.
Languages:
English. On the regional BIRN sites of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo respective language is available in addition to English.
Navigation of Website:
Publications on countries (including news releases, articles and briefings) can be accessed by selecting “Countries” on the left-hand menu bar. This leads to a list of countries from which to select the country in question.
Information about Minorities, Media and Judiciary can be accessed through “Society” on the left-hand menu bar.
Additional references:
Wikipedia:Balkan Insight
Intute: Social Sciences: Balkan Insight, 18 February 2008
