Call for Applications: BIRN BiH training on transitional justice for Ukrainian journalists and editors
As an organization with 20 years of experience in reporting on complex transitional justice topics in post war Bosnia and Herzegovina, we want to share our knowledge and skills related to high-quality reporting on transitional justice issues and other such sensitive topics with journalists in Ukraine who are facing challenging times in their reporting. BIRN BiH is organizing a three-day specialized training for journalists from Ukraine in Sarajevo, the capital of BiH.
We will select 10 experienced journalists and editors who are ready to follow the complex topics and extensive curriculum of the training. The specially-developed curriculum will aim to introduce the journalists to the concept of transitional justice and give insights into the challenges journalists face while covering transitional justice issues, including court reporting.
After the training BIRN BiH journalists will provide mentorship and editorial help to the journalists from Ukraine, who will be tasked with producing a total of four in-depth analyses (individually or in teams) from Ukraine about the ways in which the country plans to deal with each of the four pillars of transitional justice, as well as 10 news/media analyses (at least one piece per journalist/editor). Production of pieces after the training is obligatory for all journalists/editors who attend the training.
The journalists from Ukraine – who will receive comprehensive journalistic training as well as mentorship regarding the production of highly sensitive media content – will develop an in-depth understanding of what lies ahead for Ukrainian society in transitional justice processes as well as how to investigate war crimes, report on war crimes trials, contact and communicate with journalistic sources, conduct interviews with war crime victims, find human angles in the stories, counter disinformation and utilize investigative reporting techniques.
WHEN
The training will take place from September 16 to September 18, 2024. The arrival date is September 15 and the departure date is September 19.
WHO CAN APPLY
- Mid-career journalists from Ukraine
- Editors from Ukraine
WHAT WE OFFER
BIRN BiH will fully cover transportation, accommodation and meal costs.
Working language is English.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested journalists should send their:
- CV
- letter of interest
- if possible two written pieces related to transitional justice topics (Ukrainian or English language)
DEADLINE
All documents and any additional questions should be sent to Katarina Zrinjski at [email protected] by August 4, 2024.
Draft agenda
TRAINING: How and why to report about transitional justice
Sarajevo, September 15-19, 2024
Day 1, September 15
ARRIVAL DAY
Day 2, September 16
09:00 – 09:30 Introduction session
09:30 – 10:45 What is transitional justice – four pillars
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:10– 12:30 War crime prosecutions – how to monitor and report from the court
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch break
13:30 – 14:45 Interviews with war crime victims – practical guidelines
14:45 – 15:30 Truth commissions – how to avoid mistakes from the former truth commissions: case study
15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break
15:45 – 16:45 Missing persons – how to report on missing persons
16:45 – 17:15 Summary and closing remarks
Day 3, September 17
09:00 – 10:00 Reparations – legal framework, focus on victims
10:00 – 11:00 Memorialization – challenges and recommendations
11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 12:30 Role of media in post war countries
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Institutional reforms – vetting
14:30 – 15:30 How to fight war crime denial; reporting on hate crimes
15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break
15:45 – 16:45 PTSD – dealing with war trauma
16:45 – 17:15 Summary and closing remarks
Day 4, September 18
Study visits to Srebrenica Memorial Center
Departure at 8am
Visiting exhibits; lecture on oral history; talking with genocide survivals
Day 5, September 19
DEPARTURE DAY
