Who we are
A partnership organisation between the BBC and Radio Netherlands Training Centre, the European Centre for Broadcast Journalism (ECBJ) was set up in Belgrade in 2001. It is funded by the Dutch government and is working actively with journalists and radio and TV stations across Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro.
ECBJ promotes advanced training needed to report sensitive issues (for example politics, war crimes, the economy) in various programmeme formats. The training is based on audience needs and audience involvement, encouraging fair, accurate, balanced and objective approaches.
Over the past two years we have delivered 35 short- and long-term courses. We have trained more than 350 people working in the industry and worked with more than 100 radio and TV stations. The training centre provides a fully equipped radio and TV studio as well as newsrooms.
ECBJ has carried out 21 on-site consultancies, aimed at stations that are gearing up for change either in their production techniques, specific programme output or reshaping their role as public service broadcasters. 11 of these stations were in Kosovo, 10 in Serbia and Montenegro.
The recent activity of ECBJ has included assisting in the development of the local documentary production, placing a strong focus on investigation and sourcing of material, as well as structure, scripting, editing and filming. Two long-term courses have involved working with production teams made up of journalists, camera operators and picture editors.
There has also been an emphasis on breakfast show production for radio, which is potentially one of the strongest areas for programmeme development in the region and currently underrated.
Using our mobile equipment for television and radio production, a number of courses have been held across the region, with a focus on political reporting in Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. Emphasis is placed on “shifting the agenda” – looking at how journalists can move away from areas of political and business influence and self-censorship.
ECBJ is currently involved in training Serbian radio stations in Kosovo as they prepare to launch a network, including a half-hour news programme. The network is designed to break the isolation Serbs live under in the enclaves.
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