The shift from print to online media has transformed funding models and working practices, placing greater emphasis on speed and volume of news, significantly undermining the quality of journalistic coverage.
In Kosovo, while there is a large number of online media outlets, original and public-interest content is scarce. The focus tends to be on overproduction of news rather than on quality or the reasoning behind why a story is reported. As a result, many vital sectors remain either entirely uncovered or only superficially addressed by the media in Kosovo.
The division of sections within editorial offices today is more superficial. For example, the economy sections in many online media outlets often lack original content and are largely filled with articles copied or translated from foreign sources. In the era of traditional newspapers, each outlet had a dedicated economy section with specialized journalists who focused exclusively on that field. This specialization allowed journalists to develop expertise, which in turn improved the quality of reporting.
Today we have very few profiled journalists, who follow certain sectors and specialize in them. The lack of specialized journalists comes from the fact that today journalists are required to have the ability to cover a bunch of sectors, but objectively this is hardly possible. In this way, different sectors remain superficially covered.
In 2018, as a reaction to this approach to journalism and with several colleagues in the economy sector, we founded the Buletini Ekonomik — a medium profiled only in the field of economics.
The initial dilemmas were about how a medium that writes only about economics could be accepted by the public. There is a common misconception that economic news is boring, difficult to understand and likely to cause headaches for readers. The Buletini Ekonomik has broken this myth. The outlet has been extremely well received by the public, giving us confidence that old-school journalism is not dead.
From the beginning, our approach has been to cover economic news, topics, analysis and research without the time constraints and other pressures typically faced by mainstream media. We’ve operated much like a print publication. Within our editorial team, readability has never been a concern, by focusing on quality content, it has come naturally.
Why do we need specialized media?
In a context where media has lost focus and the quality of reporting has declined, for the reasons mentioned above, specialized media have become more essential than ever. Entire sectors, particularly the economy, have been left without adequate coverage. As a result of this approach to journalism, there’s a growing risk that journalists end up doing “everything and nothing.”
Specialized media, especially in the field of economics, are not only a response to this distorted form of journalism, but also a pressing necessity to fill the gap left by profit-driven, click-focused outlets. They are essential for highlighting and contextualizing the economic reality in Kosovo, as well as the misery caused by the blatant violation of workers’ rights in this sector and, by extension, human rights.
Finally, professional and specialized media in this sector are essential for both developing and sustaining journalistic capacities in the field of economics, by cultivating individuals who observe, monitor, analyze and report on specific economic issues with professionalism and expertise. In doing so, they serve as a living archive that enriches public debate on matters of importance — outside the daily toxicity in which journalism in the country is often inevitably immersed.
Since launching Buletini Ekonomik, we have seen strong reader interest in economic developments. Our main challenge has been simplifying the news to make it as accessible and understandable as possible for the public. We’ve developed an approach that goes beyond traditional reporting by contextualizing articles through the lens of freedoms and human rights, while exposing violations of citizens’ socio-economic rights.
After six years in the media market, Buletini Ekonomik has established itself as a trusted source and point of reference for economic journalism in Kosovo. Financiers, bankers, researchers, economics students, policymakers and those analyzing economic policies have come to see our platform as a valuable window into the latest developments, offering news and in-depth analysis of Kosovo’s economic landscape.
With Buletini Ekonomik, we have shattered the myth that writing about the economy is limited to statistics, arithmetic and boring numbers. Beyond these, we have delivered reporting that speaks to human rights, workers’ rights and the consequences of violations and infringements of economic rights.
However, operating as a specialized media outlet also comes with its own set of challenges.
Buletini Ekonomik has not been immune to the shifting dynamics of the media landscape. One of the main challenges has been financial instability. Since our focus has never been on generating online profits or chasing viral news, our only means of survival has been through donor grants. As a concept, Buletini Ekonomik has been well received by donors, some of whom have supported us along this journey.
In this context, we also see the cooperation, funded by the European Union, with Kosovo 2.0 in the call for support for small media in 2024, where Buletini Ekonomik is one of the grantees.
Our project has focused specifically on promoting journalism about the economy. We have produced seven investigative articles, mainly to expose violations and abuses against workers in specific economic sectors. In addition to the articles, the project has also helped us empower our staff and better prepare them for future project management.
This support has helped us sustain journalism, which we see first and foremost as a mission in service of the public, maintaining a focus on topics of vital importance to the citizens of Kosovo, beyond sensationalism.
This article was published with the financial support of the European Union as part of the project “Diversifying voices in journalism.” Its contents are the sole responsibility of Kosovo 2.0 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
