Waste dump hazards, EU integration, drinking water and food quality, and the spreading of disinformation about these and many other issues—these shared concerns transcend borders. ICS, in partnership with colleagues from the region – held a strategic networking meeting in Ohrid from July 3 – 5 to tackle these interconnected challenges through investigative journalism stories to be co-produced by regional teams of media and journalists.

During the two-day workshop, twenty journalists and editors from media in Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, discussed these shared themes and devised ways to promote joint collaboration, idea exchange, and a better understanding of these issues.

These teams are set to work on joint media products over the next period, aiming for thorough research and accurate reporting. The ultimate goal is to create a significant positive impact on the shared challenges the Western Balkans region is facing, and accurately inform the citizens in those countries about these problems.

The gathering underlines the importance of regional collaboration in the face of shared challenges. Collective efforts in strategic networking and cross-border collaborations are pivotal in addressing shared issues like environmental concerns, disinformation, and public health.

The workshop is organized within the “Use Facts” project implemented by the Institute of Communication Studies.