Balkan Investigative Reporting Network

11/09/2026

We're greeting you from Durrës, where 36 journalists from across the region came for our Regional Training on Gender-Responsive Reporting and Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.

The first day brought together practical knowledge, real cases and hands-on discussions on some of the key challenges journalists face when reporting on violence against women in the digital age:
🔹 Gender-based violence reporting
🔹 Survivor-centred journalism and ethical reporting
🔹 Digital safety protocols for gender-responsive reporting
🔹 Understanding the trends, risks and responses to violence against women in the digital age
🔹 Ethical reporting in practice, with practical tools and approaches for investigating digital violence against women.

Led by experts from ’s local offices and the Kosovo Women Network, the programme combines theoretical learning with practical exercises, case-based discussions and investigative journalism techniques.

Over the two days, participants will strengthen their ability to recognise and investigate different forms of digital violence, understand emerging technologies and their implications, and produce accurate, ethical and impactful public-interest stories that challenge gender stereotypes and promote more balanced representation in the media.

This training is a joint initiative organised by BIRN in the framework of the regional programme “EU 4 Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence against Women,” funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNDP and Paper Trail to Better Governance IV, financed by the Austrian Development Agency.

09/09/2026

Are you a journalist and lacking funds for your story that engages the audience?

💡 We invite media organisations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia to apply for the audience-engaged journalism grants of up to €9,400: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/funding-open-to-engage-your-audience-call-for-audience-engaged-journalism-grants/

European Commission The Fix Media Journalift Thomson Foundation

Media outlets from ten Balkan and Visegrad countries are invited to apply for grants, training, mentoring and access to BIRN’s audience-engagement digital tool through the first call for Audience-Engaged Journalism Grants.

08/09/2026

📧 In this month’s newsletter:

📌 Meet the People Behind BIRN - Tanja Maksic, BIRN Srbija Programme Coordinator
📌 recap and paid internship opportunities
📌 Balkan Insight stories that deserve a second look
📌 Our Summer Guide: what to read, listen to and watch

👉 Remember to subscribe if you haven't already: https://mailchi.mp/birn/around-birn-in-thirty-days-august-2026

07/09/2026

Just 3 days left 📢Apply to International Press Institute Transition Accelerator, a flagship programme for established European media.

🟠 Apply by September 9, 2026: https://buff.ly/50NRB2H

IPI’s Transition Accelerator is an eight-month programme for established, editorially independent media in Europe seeking to grow and strategise through investment in audience relationships, revenue generation, and technology adoption.

What does the programme offer?
• Up to €25,000 in funding
• 8 months of expert-led training and workshops
• Organisational needs assessment and audit
• Personalised advisory services
• Access to networks and future sources of support from the IPI.. and more

07/09/2026

📢 See you at 14:00 (CET)!

Register here to join us and learn more about the audience engaged journalism grants: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f1vUKtRoRfC1QZmxYVNJ3A #/registration https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f1vUKtRoRfC1QZmxYVNJ3A #/registration

04/09/2026

🤩 There were so many great lessons learned from the world-known experts and so many participants from all over Europe during this year's , in the picturesque lakeside town of Ohrid! Thank you to all who participated.

Here are just some of the highlights. We had a wonderful time, and now can't wait for the BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2027! 🍀

03/09/2026

📢 We have several great opportunities available for students or recent graduates (within the past six months)!

We’re looking for enthusiastic interns to join our Editorial, Programmes and Finance teams. Whether you love writing, organising, researching, managing projects, or working with numbers, there’s a place for you at !

The internship is designed as a part-time, flexible engagement that can be combined with your studies and will last up to four months. This is a paid internship, and selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend.

📅 The call is open until September 14: https://birn.eu.com/vacancies/internship-open-call-apply-now/

01/09/2026

📌 Meet the People Behind BIRN

Tanja Maksic is the BIRN Srbija Programme Coordinator. Over 16 years spent in BIRN, she has witnessed many changes – but also in the whole media environment in Serbia, which directly affects BIRN Serbia’s work.

“The organisation has changed enormously, as have the political, technological and economic circumstances around us, but that constant ability to adapt and keep learning is probably what has kept it exciting for me after all these years,” Tanja says.

However, the work of the independent media in Serbia today is not easy at all.

“I think the phrase ‘asymmetrical polarization’ best describes the Serbian media scene at the moment. This means that the number of media under the pro-government umbrella is growing, while the space for independent reporting is shrinking,” she observes.

There is a way for independent media to survive even in this environment, she notes.

“Solidarity is important. Cooperation between independent newsrooms, journalists and civil society organisations has become essential for sharing information, expertise, resources and protection mechanisms (such as free legal aid or digital security support),” Tanja notes.

Learn more about Tanja: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/meet-the-people-behind-birn-tanja-maksic/

31/08/2026

⭐ If you still haven't applied for the regional training on gender-sensitive reporting and digital violence against women and girls, you have an additional opportunity.

📌 The training will be held on September 10 and 11.

✔️ To find out more about the training and how to apply, visit our website: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/apply-now-regional-training-on-gender-responsive-reporting-and-digital-violence-against-women/

European Commission
Austrian Development Agency
UN Women Europe and Central Asia

Follow the Evidence. Report Ethically. Support Women’s Voices.

28/08/2026

For journalists investigating environmental problems, the story is often bigger than the place where it first appears.

That's why, as part of the of Investigative Reporting, BIRN organised Cross-Border Environmental Investigative Training, supported by Journalismfund Europe.

Ohrid, North Macedonia — August 2026 For journalists investigating environmental problems, the story is often bigger than the place where it first appears.