Photo story: Promoting communication between investigative journalists from Belgrade and Pristina

Journalists have a crucial role to play in the fight against organized crime and corruption. The often cross-border nature of these activities increases the need for co-operation among journalists. The OSCE organized a seminar for journalists from Belgrade and Pristina in November 2010 to provide a platform for exchanging experience and forming professional networks. (OSCE/Milan Obradovic)

Communication between journalists can lead to better reporting. Such co-operation between journalists from Pristina and Belgrade has been hampered by the legacy of the wars of the 1990s. The lifting of the Schengen visa regime made travel from some Western Balkans’ countries easier, but going from one place to another in the region can still be a challenge.<br><br> “In my work one of the most difficult issues is travel. I can’t always follow a lead on my stories, because travelling to Serbia is made difficult from Prishtinë/Pristina,” said Arta Berisha, Top Channel TV correspondent in Kosovo. (OSCE/Milan Obradovic)

Along with low salaries, job insecurity and a lack of funding for long-term investigative reporting, a lack of proper training in such reporting was cited by participants as an obstacle. “What you’re doing is bravery,” said John Holland, Advising Editor of Investigative Journalism Centre. “But bravery alone for a journalist is not enough. Investigative journalists must have training to understand the complexities of organized crime.”<br><br>The OSCE Mission to Serbia is committed to working with journalists on their continuous training and building of their skills and supported a summer school on investigative journalism in 2010. In 2011, further events for journalists are planned.<br><br><i>Written by Ivana Jovanovic, photos by Milan Obradovic </i> (OSCE/Milan Obradovic)