Hotel Astarea, Mlini, Croatia
19 – 24 August, 2024
DAY 1 MONDAY, AUGUST 19
09:00 – 09:15 Welcome Remarks
Milka Domanovic, Regional Director, BIRN Hub
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
09:15 – 11:00 Let’s investigate: Sparking Curiosity and Creativity in Investigative Journalism (Part I)
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
11:00 – 11:15 Coffee Break
11:15 – 12:15 Let’s investigate: Sparking Curiosity and Creativity in Investigative Journalism (Part II)
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
12:15 – 13:15 Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:45 Gender-Based Violence Online: Reporting for Impact
Ivana Jeremic, Digital Rights Programme Content Lead / Editor, BIRN Hub
Kreshnik Gashi, Head of the Planning Desk and Managing Editor at Kallxo.com, BIRN Kosovo
14:45 – 15:00 Coffee Break
15:00 – 16:30 How to Report from a Lost Country
Elena Kostyuchenko, independent Russian journalist and civil rights activist
16:30 – 17:30 “Shielding the Truth: Digital Security Essentials for Journalists”
Monika Kutri, journalist safety specialist, The Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA)
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner
DAY 2 TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
09:00 – 09:15 Wrapping Up Day 1
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
09:15 – 10:45 ‘Mission Investigate’ at Scandinavian Public Broadcasters
Maria Georgieva & Ali Fegan, investigative journalists, Swedish public broadcaster
10:45 – 11:15 Coffee Break
11:15 – 12:45 Generating Story Ideas, How to Investigate While Covering a Beat
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:15 Data Journalism: Navigating the Challenges Posed by AI
Jonathan Soma, Knight Chair in Data Journalism, Columbia University Journalism School (CUJS)
15:15 – 15:45 Coffee Break
15:45 – 17:00 Putin’s Shadow War – How Did We Do It
Maria Georgieva & Ali Fegan, investigative journalists, Swedish public broadcaster
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner
DAY 3 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21
09:00 – 11:00 The Art of the Interview. Techniques, Strategies and Finding Your Own Style
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 How Do Tech & Journalism Intersect and What To Do With It
Boris Budini & Redon Skikuli, digital infrastructure expert, CryptoParty Tirana (CPT)
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:15
Group 1 Advanced Data Journalism Jonathan Soma, CUJS
Group 2 “Digital Security: VR & TTX” Monika Kutri, CJA
Group 3 Advanced Deep & Dark Web Boris Budini & Redon Skikuli, CPT
15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:30 How to Avoid Digital Overwhelm: Mental Health Workshop
A.X. Mina, Program Director, The Self Investigation
17:30 – 18:30 Optional Relaxing Session: Gentle Yoga and Mindfulness
A.X. Mina, Program Director, The Self Investigation
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner
DAY 4 THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
09:00 – 09:15 The Week So Far
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
09:15 – 10:45 Visual Storytelling: What is There to Learn from Outriders?
Jakub & Anna Gornicki, reporters and co-founders of Outriders
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 13:00
Group 1 Advanced Data Journalism Jonathan Soma, CUJS
Group 2 “Digital Security: VR & TTX” Monika Kutri, CJA
Group 3 Advanced Deep & Dark Web Boris Budini & Redon Skikuli, CPT
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:15 Mastering the Pitch. Ways to Focus Your Story Ideas, Avoid Over-Promising and Imagine What Success Looks Like
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 Stress Management to Become a Better Journalist: Mental Health Workshop
A.X. Mina, Program Director, The Self Investigation
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner
DAY 5 FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
09:00 – 10:15 Investigating War Crimes and Their Legacies
Denis Dzidic, Editor and Director, BIRN BIH
10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:30 AI: Do’s and Don’ts
Jonathan Soma, Knight Chair in Data Journalism, Columbia University Journalism School (CUJS)
11:30 – 13:00 Visual Storytelling: What is There to Learn from Outriders?
Jakub & Anna Gornicki, reporters and co-founders of Outriders
13:00 – 14:15 Lunch Break
14:15 – 15:45 Environmental and Sustainable Energy Investigative Journalism
Besar Likmeta, Editor-in-Chief, BIRN Albania
15:45 – 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 – 16:45 After Publication: How to Strategically Roll Out Investigation with as Much Impact as Possible
Apostolis Fotiadis, investigative editor, Balkan Insight, BIRN Hub
16:45 – 17:15 Refining Your Pitches: Applying Lessons from This Week
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York
19:00 – 20:00 Certificate Awarding Ceremony
20:00 – 22:00 Gala Dinner
DAY 6 SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
09:00 – 12:00 Pitching Stories
Blake Morrison, Lead Trainer, Investigative Projects Editor, Reuters New York Apostolis Fotiadis, investigative editor, Balkan Insight, BIRN Hub
Sasa Dragojlo, investivative journalist, Balkan Insight, BIRN Hub
12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 18:00 Optional: Excursion
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner
DAY 7 SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
Departure