From June 15th to 17th, BIRN Albania organized a training session in Durres, Albania, focused on Digital Rights for Journalists. The purpose of the training was to highlight violations of digital rights and equip journalists with the necessary skills and tools to cover stories related to this increasingly significant topic.

The training was led by BIRN Albania’s editors, Besar Likmeta and Aleksandra Bogdani, as well as experts in data privacy and cybersecurity, activists, representatives from civil society, the Office of the Commissioner Against Discrimination, and the Alliance for Media Ethics. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including the protection of personal data by media and journalists, media ethics and self-regulation, combating hate speech against vulnerable groups and sexual minorities, finding a balance between cybersecurity and human rights, digital rights violations, ensuring journalists’ online safety, and reporting techniques for covering digital rights violations. Each session included a combination of theoretical and practical elements to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts discussed.

The participants expressed high praise for the training, finding it informative and beneficial. They particularly valued the hands-on nature of the sessions, allowing them to immediately apply the knowledge gained. The trainers’ expertise and ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner were also commended. The training was organized as part of the “Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms” project, funded by the European Union.