BIRN Holds Training Camp on Legally Safe and Crisis Reporting

September 24, 2024
Journalists from Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia attending BIRN’s Regional Training Camp on Legally Safe and Crisis Reporting on September 18-20 in Bjelasnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, learned how to protect themselves and their newsrooms from different kinds of attacks, including physical attacks, legal actions such as SLAPP lawsuits, as well as how to preserve their digital security.
Photo BIRN

The camp was organised in cooperation with the Silk Training Centre from the UK, which has developed a unique, tailor-made training to suit participants’ needs.

The first part of the programme focused on understanding the threats and risks the participants might be exposed to – and what they can do about them.

The second part focused on building the participants’ skills as first aiders.

Photo BIRN

The trainer and participants worked on practicing first aid and applying trauma first aid in a remote high-risk setting, including many skills that will be useful on a day-to-day basis.

The training also included a session about the protection of critical assets, assessments of threats and vectors, and physical and cyber information security risks.

During the training, participants had a chance to practically test the first aid tactics, helping an injured journalist with augmented reality techniques, and developing a protection scenario for a crisis.

Radmilo Markovic, from BIRN Serbia, then led a session about how journalists can recognise and protect themselves from SLAPPs.

Photo BIRN

He presented the definition of a SLAPP, including its background, characteristics, targets, legal and financial burden and its psychological effects on journalists and newsrooms.

Radmilo also presented four cases studies of SLAPPs from the Western Balkan region. He finished his presentation with advice on how journalists can best protect themselves from SLAPPs.

Participants expressed their appreciation of the Regional Camp, especially about its practical part.

The Regional Camp was part of the EU-funded project “Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II”.