Using Big Data and Multimedia to boost Quality and Independent Journalism in Albania

“Using Big Data and Multimedia to Boost Quality and Independent
Journalism in Albania” project, supported by EU, is being
implemented by BIRN Albania. The action aim to boost the skills and
knowledge of young, mid-career and journalists working on a local
level in the country, providing them with the mentoring, financial and
technical support, as well as investing significant effort to secure high
impact of their stories. In addition, the project foresees strong
multimedia component in order to make qualitative and trustworthy
investigative journalism available to citizens.
Through this project, BIRN Albania will support 20 local journalists,
both men and women, from the 12 regions of the country by involving
them in different activities of the project: a) formal training to raise
their capacities through data journalism and multimedia reporting
training; b) on-the-job training and mentoring for the production of
120 in-depth analytical stories, rich with data mined from the database
developed by BIRN and visualized through infographics in order to
make them accessible to a general audience; and c) by strengthening
their networking with local NGOs and activists.
BIRN Albania will provide funds for 12 investigative reporters
working in mainstream media and will offer them on-the-job training
and mentoring on investigative techniques and how to dig new
information through three main channels: documents obtained though
freedom of information requests, human sources from both
government and non-profit sector and electronic sources. The topics
for the 12 investigations will be selected through close consultations
with civil society in three specific fields: Judiciary, Organised Crime and Public administration and financial management.
The action will provide formal training for 20 journalism students and
young graduates from different journalism schools of Albania (Tirana,
Elbasan and Shkodra) on topics related to data visualization and
multimedia reporting. Also, after the completion of the training, the
project will support their production of 50 short video reports by
young journalism and infographics with on-the-job training and
mentoring from BIRN Albania.
Finally, the action will result with the production of up to 120 data
driven in-depth stories, at least 20 investigative stories, 12 in-depth
videos, 50 visualisation stories and 1 TV documentary, reaching close
to 1 million people in Albania who will be informed on government’s
wrongdoings as well as on key topics of interest related to the EU
integration process of Albania.