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Current Affairs TV Debates

27 November 2006  
BIRN is producing a weekly current affairs programme “Life in Kosovo”, that is transmitted on Radio Television Kosova, RTK. The programme includes field reportage on the issues at hand, direct questioning of decision-makers, affected parties, and studio debate. It covers the most important political and social issues unfolding on a weekly basis in Kosovo.
 
Topics chosen are closely following government activities, the legislative process in the Kosovo parliament, and issues relating to Kosovo’s non-Albanian communities, as well as the economy, property rights, human rights and decentralisation of government.
 

Throughout the project, BIRN’s priority will be to raise the capacity of the media as an institution and professionals working within it. The current affairs format will be firmly established within RTK, while journalists engaged in producing both TV reportage and the in-depth investigative reports will receive valuable vocational training from BIRN’s expert trainer/editors.

The overall objective of this project is to develop a sense of public accountability amongst those who hold power for the policies and decisions they make. In this way, it contributes to overcoming obstacles to Kosovo’s peace, stability and integration into Europe.
 
Vigilant moderation, related reportage and challenging studio questions will ensure this format acts as the watchdog Kosovo’s government and society so acutely need.
 
2007 is a crucial year for Kosovo, with its final political status being resolved and with all social end economical problems being prioritised. Economical development, fight of wide-spread corruption and inter-ethnic integration will remain main challenges in Kosovo once the status issue will be out of the highlights.
 
The role of the media is crucial in tipping the balance either way but, as seen this year, the sector cannot be counted on to behave responsibly under pressure
 
Kosovo’s challenges are by no means all directly linked to the status issue. However, this has been used by local leaders to fudge issues and mask inaction. A wide range of policies needs dispassionate, relevant discussion if these root causes of disaffection are to be addressed.
 
None of the three national broadcasters in Kosovo, RTK, KTV and TV21 have shows with longer news features, field reports or related discussion. Political and societal events are generally followed by short two-minute reports done in protocol style. Reporting comes only from press conferences, without primary ‘field’ investigation. Very little in the way of research is required from the journalist presenting the report.
 
Intervention logic: BIRN will tackle the dearth in good current affairs programming in the region by partnering with RTK to produce a weekly news analysis and debate show.
 
Some film clips and transcripts from the shows are posted on the BIRN website and translated into English. The principle of the shows, especially those in which ethnic minorities participate is for guests to speak in their own language with no voice-over by an Albanian translator.
 
This mechanism will ensure that Albanian viewers get used to hearing Serbian on the prime-time evening TV instead of only in the period dedicated for Serb programming on Sunday morning.

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