On December 10, 17 journalists from local media in Prishtina took part in a training session on reporting on cases of violent extremism. The session was organized by BIRN Kosovo and held at the Student Center in Prishtina.

The training was divided into two sessions, one was covered by Kosovo’s national coordinator against terrorism, Fatos Makolli, while the second session was hosted by Kreshnik Gashi, anchor of BIRN Kosovo’s Justice in Kosovo TV show.

Makolli outlined how radical Islamic ideology spread in Kosovo, the role of the Kosovo government and civil society in re-integrating returnees, and the importance of the media in responsibly reporting cases of violent extremism.

He suggested that the media must continue to work with institutions, not just to receive information and share it, but to be a partner. Makolli also briefly described the failure of international organizations in tackling the issue of radicalization, blaming it on a preoccupation with inter-ethnic issues.

According to Makolli, the most successful project for countering violent extremism was Kosovo’s membership in UEFA and FIFA, as it offered a new perspective for the youth of Kosovo. For Makolli, preventing radicalization means promoting values which include tolerance and diversity.

Gashi engaged in a more in-depth conversation with the participants and provided them with techniques for reporting cases of violent extremism correctly and precisely, while protecting the public and without causing unnecessary public fear and trauma. He continued to point out that reporting should not, in any case, contain unreliable or false news which misinform the population.