Using Big Data and Multimedia to Boost Quality and Independent Journalism in Albania

Deadline: 31-May-21

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania has launched a call for investigative stories offering grants for three journalists to produce articles on topics related to the justice sector.

The call is part of the project “Using Big Data and Multimedia to Boost Quality and Independent Journalism in Albania” supported by the European Union.

The goal of this project is to create an enabling environment for Albanian journalists to produce independent content through training, mentoring, technical and financial support, and close cooperation with civil society, so improving freedom of expression and strengthening media pluralism in Albania.

The journalists will have around three months to dig deeper and research their ideas, and will also have the opportunity to work with experienced editors as mentors to guide them through the process of writing in accordance with BIRN standards.

Selected applicants who will receive a scholarship of 1, 200 EUR (minus personal income tax), will have available a period of three months to complete their investigation and preparation of the article for publication.

Priority will be placed on the selection of proposals which include one of the topics below, priority during a roundtable organized online between journalists and representatives of civil society during the month of May:

Anti-corruption force of new justice institutions;
High workload of judges and prosecutors due to vacancies created by vetting;
Corruption and abuse of office in the ranks of new justice institutions;
Corruption of prosecutors and judges who have not undergone the vetting process;
Lack of transparency of new justice institutions;
Restrictions on constitutional rights and human freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic ;
Violation of the right to information during Covid-19 ;
Violation of the employment rights of journalists and media workers ;
Investigation of electoral crimes in the April 25 parliamentary elections by the judiciary.