Investigative Journalism: How reporters do better research - Media Programme Southeast Europe
Event Reports
This year, KAS Media Program South East Europe once again supported the week-long Summer School of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN). It took place from 23rd to 29th August in Durrës, Albania, and brought together journalists and prominent experts. The participants from South East Europe, Germany, Austria, Georgia, and Jordan acquired knowledge about investigative interviews, storytelling, and strategies for data analysis.
Seminar host and Reuters editor Blake Morrison opened the summer school. He gave practical examples how to compose an article. Applying simple structures on an investigative article, however, is often problematic. The participants realised this during a group discussion with Philipp Grüll, journalist at "Politikmagazin Kontrovers" (Bavarian TV), and Besar Likmeta, editor-in-chief at BIRN Albania. The discussions focused on handling sensitive information, the difficult access to governmental information and threats against journalists.
Following this discussion, the participants developed initial ideas for investigative projects related to the region. Under the coordination of Lawrence Marzouk, editor at BIRN Kosovo, the three best stories were chosen at the end of the summer school.
Iggy Ostanin, a young journalist who works for the internet platform Bellingcat, demonstrated an innovative approach of investigative working methods. For his research, he solely uses social media and open sources on the internet to uncover interrelations.
More in the event report.
