Insightful jointly reported N. Ireland-Kosovo stories published
An insightful series of articles jointly produced by journalists from Kosovo and Northern Ireland is being published by Shared Future News in Belfast.

These articles were produced as part of a groundbreaking project that combined discussions about reporting a troubled past with the principles of peace journalism. The participants first visited Kosovo and then Northern Ireland to learn about how journalists from both places are dealing with these thorny issues. 

As I wrote earlier, "It was gratifying to see how the project grew from an idea I had a few years ago into the initiative that brought together 20 journalists, half from each region. I was especially moved by the way the journalists came together, both professionally and personally. Project co-director Allan Leonard (Shared Future News, Northern Ireland) even said in his closing remarks in Belfast that the journalists, trainers, and project staff had united to form a family. This is especially remarkable given that the journalists are from different countries, practice different religions, and have a wide age disparity."

The project, sponsored by the British Embassy in Kosovo, culminated with the production of stories jointly produced by the one participant from each location. They're being disseminated by Shared Future News, one of the project's sponsors. I encourage you to look over these remarkable pieces, which demonstrate the constructive role media can play in building bridges and transitioning away from acrimony and division.

These stories include:
1. Lack of sculpture dedicated to women in Kosovo and Northern Ireland
2. Music's restorative capacity in Northern Ireland and Kosovo
3. Eating away at divisions in Northern Ireland and Kosovo
4. No one sees us--ethnic minorities
5. The salience of symbols

Other stories are being added daily at the Shared Future News website, so keep coming back for more.

I'm proud of the work of my journalism colleagues, and of the program's leaders Allan Leonard at Shared Future News and Xhemajl Rexha at the Association of Journalists of Kosovo. It's been a unique and wonderful learning experience for me.