What they said
I thought I was signing up for a week of workshops. Instead, I left with practical skills I’ll use throughout my career, honest feedback from experienced editors, and friendships with journalists from across the region. It was intense, challenging, and sometimes exhausting, but absolutely worth it. By the end of the week, it felt like we had known each other for years.
Tamara Kanuchova, BIRN Summer school participant
The Summer School was challenging in the best possible way. We didn’t just attend lectures—we worked together, developed a cross-border investigation, travelled for reporting, and published our story. I still use the AI skills I learned there, and I’m still in touch with many of the journalists I met. If you’re thinking about applying, do it. You’ll leave with new skills, new friends, and a network that stays with you long after the programme ends.
Patrik Galavits, BIRN Summer school participant
It is great to see so many people so enthusiastic, working together on their stories. We had a discussion about interview methods and it was so interactive, that is great!
Stephen Grey, author and Thompson Reuters journalist
The idea of bringing so many journalists from different parts of Europe itself is a brilliant idea, because people learn from each other. It is very rare for an organisation to bring such good journalists across the world to one place to talk about what they do and that is quite an exceptional thing that happened, and people that come here as participants will get a lot from that.
Paul Lewis, Special projects editor for The Guardian
Everything was really amazing, I met the greatest people and I am sure my journalist network will be better now.
Rolando Dromundo, BIRN Summer School participant
Thank you very much! I got back last week and have been working very long days, but thinking fondly of my time at BIRN and in Macedonia. It was great to meet you and the other journalists. You worked incredibly hard and put on a terrific programme. I left inspired, and if I can help in any way in the future, please just ask.
Mark Schoofs, Senior Editor for ProPublica
