Balkan Investigative Reporting Network

07/10/2026

Recently, Ivana Drakic Brkan, BIRN Hub’s Senior Project Manager, had the opportunity to join TRUST ’26 in Hilversum, an inspiring gathering focused on one of the key challenges for Europe: how do we strengthen trust and build a more resilient information society?

It was truly inspiring to connect with so many professionals from diverse backgrounds, and join the discussion on how to tackle disinformation and FIMI in our societies.

Thank you to Bellingcat and The European Trust Alliance for bringing together such a diverse group of people from across Europe.

07/10/2026

‼️ Only 5 days left to apply for audience-engaged journalism grants!

Hurry up and apply by October 12 - you could receive grants up to €4,700 and €9,400: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/funding-open-to-engage-your-audience-call-for-audience-engaged-journalism-grants/

05/10/2026

⏳ Only 7 days left to apply for audience-engaged journalism grants!

Media outlets from the Western Balkans and Visegrad countries, if you want to report unreported, or work with communities to help you investigate, apply for our Audience-engaged journalism grants.

📅 The deadline is October 12, and you receive grants up to €9,400.

👇 Find out the details and submit your application now:

https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/funding-open-to-engage-your-audience-call-for-audience-engaged-journalism-grants

If you need an idea for your citizens' engagement story, check our new Focus page on Balkan Insight gathering stories from the past 5 years (link in the first comment). 👇

International Press Institute Thomson Foundation Journalift The Fix Media

Media outlets from ten Balkan and Visegrad countries are invited to apply for grants, training, mentoring and access to BIRN’s audience-engagement digital tool through the first call for Audience-Engaged Journalism Grants.

01/10/2026

What happens when citizens help shape the news? 🏥 For five years, journalists across the region have worked with citizens, safely and securely. Explore all the stories on our new Focus Page 👇
https://balkaninsight.com/engaged-citizens-reporting/

01/10/2026

⏰ Tick-tock, tick-tock...

The deadline for applying for audience-engaged journalism grants is approaching!

Send us your applications by October 12: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/funding-open-to-engage-your-audience-call-for-audience-engaged-journalism-grants/

International Press Institute Journalift Thomson Foundation The Fix Media

Media outlets from ten Balkan and Visegrad countries are invited to apply for grants, training, mentoring and access to BIRN’s audience-engagement digital tool through the first call for Audience-Engaged Journalism Grants.

29/09/2026

Behind every story that holds power to account are journalists who need the freedom, skills and resources to pursue it.

For 20+ years, BIRN has supported reporters and newsrooms across the Balkans to develop the skills, access the resources and build the networks they need to investigate, verify and report stories that matter.

This World News Day, choose trusted journalism.

28/09/2026

Real journalism needs real support. Subscribe to trusted local news. Share useful information. Speak up for a free press.

28/09/2026

What can one investigative story made together with a community achieve?

For Zoomer, support from Media Innovation Europe (MIE 2.0) helped turn an underreported issue into impactful journalism. The investigation explored how fake profiles on dating apps are used to target gay men, uncovering experiences of harassment, threats, financial extortion and physical attacks.

In January 2026, Zoomer launched Unmuted.rs, the first media outlet dedicated to LGBTQ+ investigations in the Balkans. The MIE-supported catfishing investigation became one of the first stories published on the new platform.

! This is what independent media innovation can look like: funding enables journalism, journalism builds trust, and trust creates connections with communities reporting underreported issues with your media.

Do you want to report unreported, or work with communities to help you investigate?

Apply for Audience-engaged journalism grants: https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/funding-open-to-engage-your-audience-call-for-audience-engaged-journalism-grants/

28/09/2026

World News Day is a day to recognise what goes into journalism: the questioning, investigating, and explaining; the dogged persistence to get to the truth. Know the facts. Understand what matters.