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The Institutional Role of Journalism in Post-Conflict Societies: The Case of Kosovo
No full textThis study asserts that the traditional professional values underpinning journalism are becoming increasingly ambiguous, while established normative frameworks have diminished in their descriptive influence. Drawing on Hanitzsch’s (2011) typology of journalistic cultures, the research analyzes responses from a structured survey of 46 media professionals. Through the application of the Priority Model, the study explores how these professional role orientations intersect with neo-Gramscian perspectives on hegemony, particularly in shaping journalists’ priorities during the production and dissemination of news. The research investigates the institutional roles of journalistic cultures within Kosovo, with a specific focus on their evolving engagement in broader societal responsibilities in the aftermath of the conflict with Serbia. In these transitional societies, where political and media landscapes are undergoing democratization, journalism operates amid persistent tensions between professional norms and partisan interests. Although traditionally defined by institutionalized practices, normative values, and a distinct professional identity—serving as a buffer against forces such as commercialization—the conceptualization and enactment of journalistic \u27professionalism\u27 among Kosovar Albanian journalists necessitate critical re-evaluation. Grounded in contemporary scholarship, this study redefines professionalism as a dynamic and discursively constructed notion, frequently mobilized in moments of institutional fragmentation and legitimacy decline
The Challenge of Domestic Violence in the Balkan States
No full textDomestic violence is a major social problem that includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic, and psychological forms.It appears as a repeated pattern of behavior aimed at control and domination over the partner, affecting the lives of all family members.The main characteristics are the abuse of power and the violation of the victim’s fundamental rights. The consequences manifest in pain, suffering, and the undermining of the victim’s health and safety.Many victims remain in abusive relationships due to fear and threats of harm.Balkan states have criminalized domestic violence and established penalties for offenders. The phenomenon is also linked to femicide and has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring coordinated measures for prevention and intervention
Employment and the Impact of Nepotism in Human Resources
No full textThe two interconnected problems of nepotism and corruption damage economic growth and public institutions while breaking down the rule of law. Nepotism manifests when organizations give employment opportunities to family members and personal acquaintances instead of selecting candidates based on their professional qualifications. Nepotism and corruption together create an environment of unfair competition that damages public trust between citizens and investors which threatens democratic governance. The research investigates which elements support nepotism and corruption while studying their effects on organizations and economic performance of the nation. The research investigates how these phenomena directly influence personnel selection and career progression throughout economic and non-economic sectors including public administration and justice and labor market systems. The research establishes that corruption and nepotism create negative effects on economic growth and public service delivery quality. These practices block the career progression of qualified candidates while damaging democratic institutions that uphold democratic principles. These practices affect every level of public administration starting from central government down to municipal institutions. The research presents multiple strategies to minimize these problems through enhanced institutional oversight and legal frameworks and transparent administrative systems and civil society and media monitoring participation and ethical human resource management training that benefits national economic development
Why organized crime is in the spotlight in Kosovo and beyond
No full textOrganized crime represents a complex and dynamic challenge to national security and the legal order of modern states. Its forms and manifestations are diverse, constantly evolving as a result of political, social, and economic changes. This paper aims to analyze some of the most significant forms of organized crime in the contemporary context, focusing on phenomena such as corruption, human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling. Instead of concentrating on the mafia as a classical form of organized crime, this study emphasizes modern forms that have gained prominence in recent decades. Through a review of legal and criminological literature, the paper seeks to provide a functional and up-to-date classification of these forms, highlighting their importance for criminal policy and preventive strategies
The Impact of the Cultural Aspect of Phraseology on the Comprehension of Secondary School EFL Students in Kosovo
No full textThis study examines the impact of the cultural aspect of phraseology on the comprehension of secondary school students in Kosovo who are learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Phraseology, particularly idiomatic expressions and other fixed linguistic units, often carries cultural elements that are not easily translated into the students’ native language. This creates barriers in the acquisition and accurate interpretation of English language content. The research was conducted with 60 students from three different secondary schools in Kosovo, through a reading test and a structured interview aimed at assessing their perceptions of culturally loaded expressions. The findings show that a lack of knowledge about the cultural context of English phraseology significantly affects text comprehension. Expressions such as “kick the bucket” or “break the ice” were often misunderstood or interpreted literally, leading to a distortion of the overall meaning of the text. The study highlights the need to integrate the cultural component into the teaching of phraseology, through authentic materials and intercultural learning methods. This research underscores the importance of intertwining language and culture in the process of learning English as a foreign language, suggesting a more culturally aware approach to language instruction.
Integrating drama-based approach to practice key concepts in stylistics
No full textThe use of dialogues in language classes is widely practiced; however, involving students in writing their own dramatic texts using stylistic concepts and accordingly performing them has been significantly more engaging and effective. This study explores the impact that drama-based activities have on practicing stylistic features. Also, it provides insights on students’ practices and attitudes toward integrating play-script writing and stage performances in the classroom. Data were collected through performance observations and student questionnaires. The study-participants were first year undergraduate students studying English Language at UBT. The findings showed that majority of the students were highly encouraged and enthusiastic about writing the play scripts and acting them out on in front of their classmates. Ultimately, drama-based approach helped anxious students alleviate their anxiety level and feel more comfortable while performing; it raised their stylistics awareness and facilitated students’ comprehension of stylistic concepts, features and interpretations
The Impact of Musical Hearing on the Creative Process of Composers: A Collaborative Student–Teacher Research Approach
No full textThis study is built upon a qualitative and exploratory approach, investigating the impact of musical hearing on compositional creativity through the experience of a composition student and pedagogical reflection. The work is developed through a direct collaboration between the author (teacher) and the student, involving the latter as a co-author of the paper. By analyzing the student’s original compositions and examining how inner hearing and auditory perception influence the music writing process, the study aims to identify models for understanding the relationship between perception and creation. The research also includes comparisons with other composers and analyses of scholarly literature addressing the connection between musical hearing and the development of musical creative imagination. This research places listening at the core of the artistic creation process, emphasizing its role in aesthetic decision-making and in shaping the structural form of the musical work
Match Intensity in the Kosovo Women’s National a Football Team
No full textThis study aims to examine the match intensity of the Kosovo Women’s National a Football Team during international competitions organized by UEFA. The UEFA Women’s European Championship Switzerland 2025 has further demonstrated the growing popularity of football among women. Modern women’s football is not only technically and tactically advanced but has also significantly increased in terms of physical demands and intensity. Methods: The study was conducted with ten starting players from the Kosovo Women’s National a Team during the qualifying matches held on April 8 and June 3, 2025. Match intensity was assessed using modern tracking technology (GPS – Polar). Five performance variables were analyzed, representing the standard intensity zones: Zone 1: \u3c 7 km/h; Zone 2: 7–13 km/h; Zone 3: 13–19 km/h; Zone 4: 19–23 km/h; and Zone 5: \u3e 23 km/h. According to research by FIFA, UEFA, and professional leagues such as the NWSL and FA WSL, these zones reflect the amount of time or distance covered by a player at different running intensities during competition. Results: The results indicated that during official matches, the Kosovo players performed with the following distribution across intensity zones: Zone 1: 40%; Zone 2: 41%; Zone 3: 14%; Zone 4: 4%; and Zone 5: 1%. These findings suggest that the Kosovo Women’s National a Team performs at comparatively lower percentages in high-intensity zones (Zones 3, 4, and 5) relative to elite national teams worldwide. Conclusion: The lower match intensity observed in the Kosovo Women’s National a Team can be attributed to the fact that not all players compete at professional levels. To improve performance, it is recommended to increase the professional standards of the Kosovo women’s domestic league, implement high-intensity training programs, and facilitate the transfer of talented players to professional European leagues
The Relationship between physical activity outside of School and postural deformities in primary school children
No full textMore and more children have posture problems, which is becoming a public health issue. This is mostly because they don’t move enough. How exercise outside of school helps is still not well studied in a few places. To see if doing physical activity outside school is connected to posture problems in young students from Gjilan. Methods: Health checks were done on 1,836 young students to see if they had common posture problems. The checks looked for spine issues (like scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis), leg shape problems (genu valgum, genu varum), and flat feet. The results were used to compare kids who exercised often with those who didn’t. Statistical testing was done with the chi-square technique. Results: A total of 17.54% of the children were diagnosed with at least one musculoskeletal imbalance, with an average age of 13.62 years among affected individuals. Children with lower levels of physical activity exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of postural deformities, most commonly scoliosis, kyphosis, and flat feet. The analysis showed that more physical activity meant fewer cases of the observed issues. Conclusion: Staying active outside of school may lower the chances of posture problems in children. Staying active could help children not develop body posture problems
Conventional Physiotherapy Compared to Specific Manual Manipulations Combined with Conventional Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache
No full textThe aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy with that of physiotherapy combined with specific manual manipulations of the upper cervical spine in the treatment of patients with cervicogenic headache. Methods: This was a prospective, controlled, randomized parallel-group study. A total of 50 patients with chronic cervicogenic headache (\u3e3 months), aged 18–65 years, were included. Following simple randomization in Excel, patients were divided into two groups of 25 each: the first group received conventional physiotherapy, while the second group received physiotherapy combined with manual manipulations. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v26), employing the Mann-Whitney tests. A statistical significance threshold of p \u3c 0.05was used. Results: The results showed greater improvement in the group that received combined therapy. Post-treatment NDI was 0.72 in the conventional group and 0.56 in the combined group. HDI demonstrated similar reductions (0.24 vs 0.21). Statistically significant differences were identified in the reduction of neck and head pain after 48 hours and after 12 sessions (p \u3c 0.01). Conclusion: Combined therapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. It is recommended that physiotherapists receive training in manual manipulation techniques. Further studies with larger samples and long-term follow-up are needed to reinforce these findings