Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey

The project aims to provide systemic support to improve the quality and professionalism of journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey. It is based on a successful model established by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and its partners, including CEU Democracy Institute and developed over the past four years, which enables journalists to produce relevant, high-quality content independently, broadening, citizens’ perspectives on issues of public importance and increasing trust in the media.

As part of this initiative, CEU Democracy Institute will conduct broad consultations with academic institutions in the region, and create an Advisory Board of academics and journalists, in order to develop a roadmap for formal accreditation of future MA program(s). CEU will also collaborate with the University Goce Delcev (UGD) from Stip, North Macedonia to implement a pilot program for academic training in investigative journalism. During the previous project cycle, CEU developed a model curriculum, which will be instrumental towards informing the accreditation roadmap.

The roadmap will help secure long-term and sustainable education of the next generations of journalists in the region. Development of an accreditation roadmap is a critical part of the process towards implementation of fully accredited MA program(s).

The overall objectives of the project are:

Capacity building for mid-career and young journalists;
Supporting the production of quality news;
Cross-border investigative stories in print and tv;
Providing investigative resource desk support;
Promoting these stories through awards; and
Ensuring sustainability in journalism study program.