Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN

About the network

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is a prominent network of non-governmental organizations dedicated to promoting freedom of speech, human rights, and democratic values across Southern and Eastern Europe. Founded in 2005 BIRN has developed a unique and highly effective network structure. It combines local, country-based expertise with powerful regional cooperation by gathering independent local organizations.

BIRN maintains physical local organizations across multiple nations, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. Additionally, the network is editorially active and present in Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia. While individual country organizations address immediate local needs and reporting contexts, the BIRN Hub, registered in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, implements wide-reaching regional and international programs. Bringing extensive expertise to journalists operating in post-communist and post-conflict societies, BIRN empowers citizens to access their rights by providing accurate information, scrutinizing key public processes, steering public debate, and advocating for institutional transparency and accountability.

The network provides critical resources, editorial support, and project management so that investigative journalism can thrive in the region. Their work and expertise span several core areas:

• Investigative Journalism: Executing hard-hitting, independent investigations into high-level corruption, organized crime, and institutional accountability.
• Capacity Building & Training: Running intensive workshops, professional training schools, and mentorship programs for journalists.
• Event & Project Organization: Organizing major regional conferences, fellowships, and cross-border reporting initiatives.
• Civil Society Engagement: Enabling civil society organizations (CSOs) and citizens to effectively influence decision-makers through reliable data and reporting.

The network’s member organizations and correspondents tackle deep systemic and societal issues. Their primary reporting subjects include:

• Corruption & Organized Crime: Exposing financial crimes, elite graft, and illicit transnational networks.
• Democracy & Politics: Tracking democratic backsliding, institutional integrity, and political accountability.
• Transitional Justice: Documenting post-conflict reconciliation, war crimes trials, and historical accountability.
• Digital Rights: Investigating state surveillance, data privacy, and the intersection of technology and human rights.

Network Projects

• The Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence: A prestigious annual program that finances and mentors a cohort of journalists each year to produce long-form, cross-border articles relevant to the region. Fellows receive grants, rigorous editorial supervision, and access to specialized workshops, with their work published on Balkan Insight or the Reporting Democracy platform.
• Reporting Democracy: A prominent cross-border journalism platform exploring the state of democracy across Europe, featuring its own network of correspondents, in-depth analysis, and story grants.
• The BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting: A renowned annual event bringing together 20 Balkan journalists and 10 international reporters for intensive workshops, hands-on training, story development, and cross-border networking opportunities.

Contact

Website: https://birn.eu.com

Contact

Website: https://birn.eu.com
Name: Aida Ajanovic
Email: aida.ajanovic@birnnetwork.org