Team

Visar Prebreza, Senior Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Visar Prebreza, with over a decade of experience, is a seasoned investigative reporter, fact-checker, and editor known for editing award-winning stories and conducting research on media and sustainable development issues in Kosovo. His expertise encompasses areas such as the environment, air quality, energy efficiency, and institutional strategies for regulation. Currently contributing to KALLXO.com, a collaborative platform of Internews Kosova and BIRN Kosovo, Visar has a rich background working for various media outlets, including Kosova Sot and Koha Ditore. His portfolio includes monitoring, covering, compiling, and editing numerous award-winning investigations focused on sustainable development issues. Notably, in 2021, he received the first prize from the European Union Office in Kosovo for the story titled "Unclean Energy: A Kosovar Who Owned the Sun." Visar has also served as a Local Expert with RECURA in the DEMOS project, examining issues related to the relations between municipal bodies in accordance with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. He reports for Energetika.net/Montel Group in Oslo, Norway, covering energy and environmental issues in Kosovo. Additionally, he has been engaged as an expert by GIZ, CIVIKOS, Open Data Kosovo, and the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society, working on topics ranging from identifying money laundering to training local CSOs on public money spending. Beyond his journalistic work, Visar has authored policy briefs for the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, co-authored articles for the Huffington Post, and delivered training to Kosovo journalists on fact-checking, disinformation recognition, and investigative reporting. He has mentored over 30 mid-career and aspiring journalists, contributing significantly to research on disinformation, violent extremism trends, foreign influences, and illicit money flows. His work has played a crucial role in exposing offshore dealings of businessmen and politicians, resulting in substantial savings of taxpayers' money. In his upcoming role.

Diedon Nixha, Researcher and Project Coordinator, BIRN Kosovo

Diedon currently serves as a Project Coordinator at BIRN Kosovo, where he oversees the coordination of project activities, conducts extensive desk and field research, and maintains consistent communication regarding project status with stakeholders and donors. His recent work includes monitoring digital rights violations and contributing to a publication that analyzes the disinformation landscape in Kosovo. Previously, as a Researcher at the Kosovo Institute for Policy and Research Development (KIPRED), Diedon developed disinformation policy papers and recommendations for the Kosovo government. He collaborated with the Digital Public Sphere and other partners to create digital tools aimed at countering disinformation. Additionally, he was a member of the Republic of Kosovo’s National Security Council working group on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), providing assistance in the formulation of national strategies. In 2021, Diedon served as a National Research and Evaluation Specialist at the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. In this role, he oversaw the monitoring and evaluation of all UN-funded peacebuilding projects and initiatives in three Western Balkan countries. His responsibilities encompassed data collection, research, stakeholder consultations, and the drafting and dissemination of final reports on local peacebuilding efforts. Earlier in his career, Diedon worked as a Business Consultant, where he monitored procurement data awards. He linked this data to relevant companies on the platform to support product development. This role required the application of his data analysis skills to convert raw data into actionable business intelligence.

Xheneta Murtezaj, Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Xheneta Murtezaj started her professional journey at BIRN Kosovo in July 2018. She completed her bachelor's studies at the Faculty of Journalism from 2015 to 2018. Initially joining as an intern, she covered reporting on municipalities grappling with social welfare problems, with her articles often making a positive impact on the community. Xheneta has since evolved into the role of a Senior Journalist at BIRN Kosovo, accumulating five years of experience in reporting on local and general elections, monitoring recruitment processes for key positions in Kosovo's institutions, and more. Throughout this period, Xheneta has actively participated in various trainings and workshops, consistently seeking to expand her knowledge. Currently, she is concurrently pursuing her master's studies at the Faculty of Public Administration and Diplomacy.

Ardita Zeqiri, Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Ardita Zeqiri, currently serving as a Journalist and Researcher at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), plays a pivotal role in delving into the intricacies of local governance in the capital city. Her primary responsibilities involve closely monitoring municipal council sessions, tracking decision-making processes, and navigating various procurement procedures. In addition to her role at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Ardita significantly contributes to Prishtina Insight, the English-language magazine of BIRN Kosovo. Her written pieces cover a diverse range of topics, ranging from daily news to feature articles addressing various societal issues. A member of BIRN since 2019, Ardita has actively participated in numerous projects and monitoring initiatives during this period, including electoral processes. Notably, she has made significant contributions to the Disinformation Project, examining the impact of fake news on Kosovo. Furthermore, Ardita has played a key role in the project titled 'The Clash between Two Competing Narratives – Case Study,' which compares how Kosovo and Serbia report on events in Kosovo. Ardita has also been a contributor to fact-checking efforts, scrutinizing news articles across different media outlets and online platforms. Demonstrating her commitment to professional development, Ardita Zeqiri has engaged in numerous trainings, with a particular focus on information in crisis reporting, digital rights, and debunking false information.

Vlera Shabani, Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Vlera, a researcher with BIRN Kosovo since 2022, engages in investigating, fact-checking, and monitoring public institutions and vacancies as part of her assignments. Her research portfolio encompasses projects on disinformation, public procurement/public money spending, and media ownership. Vlera has contributed significantly by publishing numerous articles and reports in these areas. Her commitment to professional development is evident through her participation in various trainings both in Kosovo and abroad. Topics of focus include investigative reporting, fact-checking, public procurement, transitional justice, and reporting during crisis times. With a particular passion for healthcare-related issues, Vlera reports fervently on matters concerning healthcare. Currently pursuing her journalism studies at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Vlera brings a dynamic blend of academic knowledge and hands-on research experience to her role at BIRN Kosovo.

Labinot Leposhtica, Legal Adviser, BIRN Kosovo

Labinot Leposhtica, the Head of the Legal and Monitoring Office at BIRN Kosova and KALLXO.com, coordinates BIRN's monitoring team, overseeing the efficiency of the Kosovo justice system. Additionally, he handles the legal editing of all media products for BIRN Kosova and represents the organization in court cases, successfully winning over 25 cases, particularly those involving SLAPP lawsuits. As a member of the Steering Committee of the Rule of Law Strategy in the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Leposhtica represents civil society organizations. His involvement extends to working groups for justice reform, contributing to legislation drafting on various crucial matters such as the code of criminal procedure, strategies against violent extremism, vetting processes in the justice system, and laws related to corruption prevention. Authoring over 15 analytical reports on the justice system, Labinot Leposhtica focuses on cases relevant to visa liberalization, corruption, and violent extremism. He has conducted more than 100 training sessions for public officials, journalists, lawyers, and citizens, covering topics such as media code of ethics, access to public documents, privacy protection, media communication, digital rights, and justice system monitoring.

Valon Fana, Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Valon Fana, a journalist at KALLXO.com since February 2019, holds a Master's degree in the Journalism and Public Relations program from the University of Pristina "Hasan Prishitna," where he also completed his Bachelor's studies in journalism. His professional journey includes previous work on the show "Ekonomia me Erezen" on TV Klan Kosova, an internship at ‘Lëvizja FOL,’ and assistance in the media office at the Basic Court of Pristina through a USAID-supported program. Valon is a recipient of three scholarships for journalistic writing and has won two journalism awards in the fields of Public Procurement and children's rights. In the past, he contributed to a Media Education project at the American Corner Pristina, supported by the American Embassy in Kosovo, and served as a lecturer in a training on critical media reading with the non-governmental organization PEN. Valon Fana's journalistic focus revolves around human rights, security, and politics, emphasizing in-depth research in these areas.

Adelina Ahmeti, Journalist and Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Adelina embarked on her professional journey at BIRN Kosovo in 2015 as an intern and later advanced to the role of senior journalist. Currently serving as a journalist, researcher, and assistant editor at BIRN and the anti-corruption online platform KALLXO.com, she has cultivated a strong reputation for her coverage of events and current affairs related to law and security. Adelina's articles consistently garner regional interest, often being featured in Balkan Insight. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Pristina and has demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning by actively participating in various training sessions and workshops. Her areas of expertise include security, law, and the prevention of extremism and terrorism. Throughout her career, Adelina has received recognition for her outstanding work, earning awards from the Journalists Association, EU Awards for Investigative Journalism, and the Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo – KOMF. 

Mediana Halili, Journalist and Researcher, BIRN Kosovo

Mediana Halili is a journalist and research monitor at KALLXO.com since September 2019. Mediana is responsible for writing research articles as well as monitoring public institutions and competitions for senior positions. She completed her bachelor's degree in journalism at the Public University of Prishtina, 'Hasan Prishtina'. In the framework of her work at KALLXO.com, she follows the field of economics while participating in many projects and trainings. Mediana is part of the monitoring and investigative group in BIRN's disinformation group and in the tender monitoring project, producing voluminous and other useful reports. She has participated in over 20 trainings related to me, 'fake news and fact-checking', 'flow of public money', 'other transitional types', 'crisis reporting', 'advocacy', 'mobile journalism'.

Kaltrina Hoxha, Researcher

Kaltrina Hoxha, a seasoned development professional, specializes in advancing sustainable development and promoting democratic principles, with a particular emphasis on media development and countering disinformation. In her role at USAID, she leverages her expertise in project cycle management and donor coordination, strategically engaging with the Government of Kosovo and international donors. Kaltrina has led programs at the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, integrating critical thinking and digital media literacy into formal education to foster informed media interactions and combat disinformation. With a background in project management at BIRN Kosovo, she has successfully led projects that combine digital tools with access to information, anti-corruption, and good governance. Academically grounded with a Master's in International Affairs and specialization in Security Policy, Kaltrina extends her dedication to development through diverse research engagements. This includes contributions to media literacy curricula development, open data assessment, and innovative approaches to countering disinformation.

Nafisa Hasanova, Head of Research, GMR

Nafisa managed Media Ownership Monitor projects in Ukraine (2016), Serbia (2017), Albania (2018), Sri Lanka (2018), India and Pakistan (2019). She was also involved in the Journalism Trust Initiative, from the RSF team. Before joining RSF, Nafisa worked on the Transdniestrian Settlement Process for the Finnish Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) founded by the former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari. Prior to that she worked as policy officer for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia for APRODEV (now ACT Alliance EU), EU Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) for Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Nafisa holds an MA in Intercultural Communication and European Studies from the University of Applied Sciences in Fulda, Germany. She completed a BA in English Philology at the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages in Uzbekistan.

Sheley Gomes, Researcher and Project Assistant, GMR

Sheley is a project assistant and researcher currently working for the Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) on the Western Balkans. She is also currently a volunteer at Intervozes, the organization that implemented the Media Ownership Monitor in Brazil, where she previously worked as an advocacy consultant. At Intervozes she has also worked as a researcher in several projects regarding freedom of expression, fake news, media coverage, and media ownership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Brasilia, a post-grad in Law and Government Affairs by the University Center of Brasilia, and is currently finishing a master’s degree in Media and Area (Central-Eastern European) Studies at Charles University in Prague.

Lea Auffarth, Head of Operations, GMR

Lea coordinates the implementation of the Media Ownership Monitor's editions, and manages some of them directly. Previously, Lea has worked for the press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders, where she coordinated the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) and headed the development of its IT infrastructure. Other work on media transparency, literacy, and ethics include the ‘Media Ownership Monitor’ (MOM) and Lebanese Samir Kassir Foundation’s ‘Digital Rights Project’. Lea is a trained journalist and has worked with the German public broadcaster WDR as well as regional press. She holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from King’s College London.

Olaf Steenfadt, Global Project Director, GMR

Olaf heads the "Media Ownership Monitor" project and the "Journalism Trust Initiative" at the press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders, RSF. For many years, he has been engaged as a consultant and coach in media development cooperation. Mandates of international organizations and NGOs lead him primarily to Southeast Europe and the Arab world. He previously worked for national German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF in various roles, including as a radio and TV presenter, investigative reporter, domestic and foreign correspondent, as well as in format development and corporate communication. Olaf is a member of the "High-level Expert Group on Fake News and Online Disinformation" of the European Commission and of the "Committee of Experts on Quality of Journalism in the Digital Age" at the Council of Europe. He teaches frequently at universities in Germany and Europe.