The EU Investigative Journalism Awards in the Western Balkans and Turkey were presented for the fifth time at a ceremony held tonight at Europe House in Belgrade. Three stories were awarded, with the first prize going Ivana Milosavljević, Teodora Ćurčić, Vladimir Kostić from The Centre for Investigative Journalism of Serbia for story about the Serbian Progressive Party call centre and vote-buying has won first place in the “EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2024” competition, while the remaining prizes went to three stories from the Balkan Investigative Journalism Network of Serbia (BIRN).
The winners of this year’s competition were selected by a three-member jury consisting of Ljubica Gojgić, journalist at RTV Vojvodina and editor and presenter of the show “Pravi ugao”, Perica Gunjić, editor-in-chief of the Cenzolovka portal, and Tamara Filipović Stevanović, General Secretary of NUNS.
The annual EU regional awards for investigative journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey aim to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of investigative journalists, while also enhancing the visibility of quality journalism in these regions.
Manuel Munteanu, Head of Information, Communication and Media of the EU Delegation to Serbia, noted that journalists serve as the watchdogs of society, uncovering truths that might otherwise remain hidden and holding power to account.
“Across the globe, we witness governments and powerful entities attempting to stifle dissenting voices, often resorting to intimidation, censorship, and even violence. Journalists who dare to expose wrongdoing face harassment, legal repercussions, and, in the most tragic cases, physical harm or death”, said Munteanu.
He recalled that the European Commission Annual Report from October 2023 identified as one of the priorities for Serbia is to strengthen the security and safety of journalists and notably ensuring that high-level officials refrain from labelling or making verbal attacks on journalists and that any threats and cases of physical and verbal violence are swiftly followed up and, as appropriate, publicly condemned, investigated or prosecuted. He also underlined the European Union will continue to advocate for stronger legal frameworks that safeguard media freedom as well as recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions journalist in general and investigative journalism in particular, bring to societies.
1st place: Ivana Milosavljević, Teodora Ćurčić, Vladimir Kostić (CINS): CINS in the SNS call centre: Agency for hostesses, vote-buying, and millions in cash
From 2023, the EU Award for Investigative Journalism is organized by Thomson Media, Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers of North Macedonia and the Association of Journalists / Gazeteciler Cemiieti from Turkey.
Sanja Lazić, representative of Thomson Media, expressed great satisfaction with the variety of topics and the large number of applications.
“We received stories covering a wide range of topics, including political corruption, human rights abuses, women’s rights, environmental issues, and more. The quality of stories we received this year demonstrates the vital role investigative journalism continues to play in our societies,” Lazić added.
2nd place: Gordana Andrić, Aleksandar Đorđević: Fake payments, fictitious lectures: How millions of euros for the vulnerable ended up in other people’s pockets
3rd place: Anđela Milivojević: “I was powerless”: Confessions of women and girls across Serbia about the terrible consequences of revenge pornography
3rd place: Radmilo Marković: Belgrade – A paradise for illegal construction and dubious legislation: BIRN uncovers almost half a million disputed square metres
