In a bid to foster collaboration and understanding between Serbian and Albanian journalists, a joint media tour was organized for the second time as part of a project to encourage media exchange. The tour brings together a diverse group of journalists from Kosovo, including those reporting in Serbian and Albanian, and Serbia.
As part of the tour, the group, which included journalists of Kallxo, Klan Kosova, Vreme, KoSSev, Teve1, Nacionale, Cenzolovka/RFE, ATV, visited North Mitrovica on Monday, where they engaged in a roundtable discussion with representatives from local media outlets and NGOs, such as KoSSev, Radio Kontakt Plus, and other prominent organizations including CASA, Aktiv, and ACDC.
A vibrant discussion began after introductions, addressing communication and cooperation between Serbian and Albanian media, police conduct, and the challenges faced by journalists in their work. Safety emerged as a key concern for most participants, with several citing it as a growing issue in recent years.
North Kosovo media representatives expressed concerns over attacks on journalists in the region and the recent cases of alleged excessive force by Kosovo police. NGO representatives called on Pristina-based media to cover these incidents more extensively, urging greater visibility of these challenges.
Both local journalists and those from Pristina voiced frustrations with a lack of communication from central institutions, who frequently do not respond to journalists’ inquiries. Albanian-speaking journalists expressed interest in hearing firsthand accounts from Serbian residents affected by police actions, though local media cautioned that fear of reprisals remains a significant barrier to open discussion in North Kosovo.
The roundtable also touched on the upcoming Kosovo parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 9, 2025.
Following their time in North Mitrovica, the group visited Peć and Gračanica and will continue to Bujanovac, Vranje, Belgrade, and Novi Sad. The tour is set to conclude on November 8.
Funded by the European Union, BIRN Serbia, and Internews Kosovo, the project seeks to „enhance journalists’ understanding of the region’s political and cultural issues, with a focus on promoting professional standards, dialogue, pluralism, and inter-ethnic relations,“ according to BIRN organizers.
BIRN representatives emphasized that the program aims to provide journalists with an opportunity for professional growth and to bridge divides between these communities through their future reporting. Six journalists were selected for this program.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
