The EBU is working together with media professionals from the Balkans to develop the first investigative journalism training programme for public service media (PSM) in the region.

The EBU Partnership Programme (EPP) and the Eurovision ACADEMY invited investigative journalists from Swedish (SVT) and German (ARD/WDR) Member broadcasters, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, B92 and BIRN Kosovo to Belgrade, Serbia.

The group was charged with creating a curriculum that will equip public service journalists from the Balkans with the necessary skills to research, carry out and broadcast investigative stories at their own stations.

Nils Hanson, Editor in Chief of Uppdrag granskning (Mission Investigate), SVT's hugely popular investigative programme, commented on what the training is meant to achieve: "The aim is to put them into an investigative journalism state of mind. Talking about the public service values it brings to the company, investigative journalism plays an invaluable role in a democratic society. Swedish Televison has been doing it since the '70s and our program, Mission Investigate, reaches as many viewers as many popular entertainment programmes - some weeks, as much as  ten percent of the population!"

EPP Project Manager Radka Betcheva added that increasing audience trust through investigative journalism will also give public broadcasters in the region a competitive edge.

“It is going to be challenging, since this is will be the first programme aimed at developing public service investigative journalism in the Balkans, but they have to change. PSM have to get closer to their audience, to show citizens that they are producing high quality reporting and are an indispensible source of information," she said.

The first investigative journalism training programme will include modules on research, investigative journalism techniques, data mining, libel and storytelling, after which students will work on stories under the supervision of tutors.

Participating public broadcasters will select 16 journalists to participate in the course, which is expected to start on 26 May.