International Expert on Peace Journalism and Intercommunity Dialogue (SSA)

Background:

In 2025, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (hereinafter the OSCE) will facilitate a one-day training session on peace journalism for journalists and media professionals from diverse communities, as well as for civil society representatives and organizations dealing with media affairs. The purpose of the training is to provide the afore-mentioned beneficiaries with effective and practical knowledge on how they could contribute to advancing trust and dialogue between different communities by promoting more balanced approach in media reporting, exploring underlying causes of conflict and their potential resolutions, and giving voices to marginalized voices. The training will focus on the importance of language in media reporting, particularly on what to avoid to prevent an escalation of tensions and how to report on the common ground shared by the parties in the conflict. Through illustrative examples and presentations of best practices, the training will demonstrate to the participants how media reporting and activities can support initiatives aimed at enhancing public dialogue and finding constructive resolutions to ongoing issues without compromising the fairness and accuracy of the media. The training will thus encourage journalists and media professionals to utilize the principles of peace journalism to inform and advance their practices when reporting on any kind of conflict and/or crisis situation, while it will also demonstrate to the civil society’s representatives how the media reporting may impact, be it negatively or positively, potential conflict or crisis situation. 

To build on the results of the training, the OSCE will also organize a panel discussion during which journalists and media professionals from diverse communities all over Kosovo, along with local civil society organizations monitoring the work of the media, will discuss the role of the media in crisis situations and potential ways they can contribute to ongoing dialogue and conflict transformation. In this panel discussion, both media and civil society organizations will have the opportunity to share best practices in reporting on past crisis situations and elaborate on potential examples of collaboration that could help convey the views of ordinary residents, debunk fake news, and promote understanding and peaceful resolutions for the benefit of all communities. The discussion will encourage the participants to support ethical and responsible media reporting free of dehumanizing and inflammatory language, as well as trust-building initiatives and dialogue between communities.  

To ensure the effective and practical transfer of knowledge and skills to the beneficiaries, the OSCE seeks to engage an international consultant with an extensive experience in working in the media and reporting on conflict situations. The international consultant who will deliver the training will also moderate the follow-up panel discussion, reflecting on the outcomes of the training on peace journalism and streamlining the conversation to yield constructive recommendations for future actions and opportunities for collaboration and networking to both the media and civil society organizations.

Objective of Assignment: 

The international consultant is expected to build the capacities of journalists, media and civil society’s representatives belonging to different communities by improving their understanding of the concept of peace journalism, presenting them with relevant best practices from elsewhere and encouraging them to consider the principles of peace journalism when reporting in potential conflict or crisis situations. The consultant will thus provide up to 20 participants with skills to monitor and report on developments by focusing on peace and reconciliation and avoiding the language that could incite tensions.

In addition, the international consultant is expected to moderate a follow-up panel discussion and create an environment that would encourage a dialogue among media and civil society’s peers on how media reporting could contribute to dialogue between communities for the benefit of all.

Duration of Assignment:

The Consultant will be hired for 10 working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Design a one-day training session on peace journalism, focusing on the importance of language in media reporting, for journalists and media professionals belonging to diverse communities in Kosovo, as well as for civil society representatives and organizations dealing with media affairs;
2. Develop a well-structured plan for one-day panel discussion that will address the role of media reporting in  dialogue among communities by gathering journalists, media professionals and civil society’s representatives from different communities in Kosovo;
3. Prepare training materials in English language, including a draft agenda for the training on peace journalism, elaborative presentation (s) and illustrative examples, in co-ordination with the MS Activity Manager;
4. Deliver the one- day training session on “peace journalism” in English language to the selected beneficiaries, on the date and at the location in Kosovo selected by the MS Activity Manager, and assess the general level of their skills and knowledge prior and after the session, based on the methodology previously agreed with the MS Activity Manager;
5. Moderate the one-day panel discussion addressing the topics of how media reporting could contribute to intercommunity dialogue, on the date and at the location selected by the OSCE MS Activity Manager, and summarize its main conclusions to provide recommendations for further actions of the involved media and civil society representatives;
6. Draft and submit to the MS Activity Manager a final report, not less than four pages long, that should consist of the following elements: summary of their presentations and main conclusions of the discussions, overall assessment of the impact achieved with the implementation of the training and the panel discussion, as well as the main recommendations for potential follow-up activities.

Deliverables:

• By 3 September 2025, a structured plan of the training on peace journalism, along with proposal for the main topics and methods of delivery, is submitted by the international consultant, via e-mail, to the MS Activity Manager;
• By 3 September 2025, the plan for one-day panel discussion,     including a brief presentation on the main challenges in media reporting in Kosovo and potential topics of discussion, are submitted by the international consultant, via e-mail, to the MS Activity Manager;
• By 8 September 2025, the foreseen training materials in English language are submitted by the international consultant, via e-mail, to the MS Activity Manager. The training materials should include a presentation(s), illustrative examples and a draft agenda in English language, covering a variety of topics, including (but not limited to) role of media in the conflict prevention, principles of peace journalism, importance of language and balanced approach in media reporting, understanding root causes of conflict and focusing on peaceful solutions, promoting perspective that are advocating for dialogue and reconciliation, networking for the benefit of enhancing a dialogue among communities;
• By 17 September 2025, the one-day training session on “peace journalism” is delivered in English language, presenting the beneficiaries with real-world knowledge and best practices they could apply in their everyday work and assessing their pre- and post-training knowledge and skills with adequate evaluation methods prepared by the international consultant and agreed with the MS Activity Manager at least three days prior to the implementation of the training;
• By 17 September   2025, the relevant panel discussion leading to conclusions on how media and civil society representatives could generate positive changes in media reporting during potential conflict and/or crisis situations and thus contribute to the intercommunity dialogue, is moderated by the international consultant;
• By 20 September 2025, the final report is delivered by the international consultant, via e-mail, to the MS Activity Manager, in an appropriate format, and with the required content and information.

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in journalism, communication, international relations, peace and conflict prevention studies, or another related field;
• At least five years of working experience in traditional and/or digital media, including reporting on conflict situations from a peace-oriented perspective and/or issues related to peace building and promotion of a dialogue;
• Professional knowledge of concept of peace journalism, including its principles, best practices and application in the media reporting, in particular in the Southeast Europe;
• Professional understanding of role of media in conflict dynamics and prevention, as well as in peacebuilding and conflict resolution;
• Experience of working on projects and/or initiatives promoting peace journalism and peacebuilding, and acting as a trainer in journalism-oriented training;
• Fluency in English language is mandatory while knowledge of another language, such as Albanian and/or Serbian, is desirable;
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, analytical and facilitation skills.
• Cultural sensibility and ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds. 

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

In order to apply for this position, you must complete the OSCE's online application form, found under OSCE Careers - Jobs. Applicants are encouraged to use the online recruitment, and only fully completed OSCE applications will be accepted. However, if you have technical difficulties with the system, you may use the offline application form found at Offline application form | OSCE Employment and forward the completed form quoting the vacancy number by email to: consultancy.omik@osce.org. In line with your qualifications, please indicate a preference for one or more fields of expertise listed above (while using the online application the field of expertise preference can be indicated in the cover letter part). Kindly note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different format other than the OSCE Application Form or in other languages other than the English language would not be considered. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds to apply