At a ceremony held in Podgorica on 27 November during the South East Europe Media Forum - also in the presence of H.E. Jakov Milatović, President of Montenegro, and CEI National Coordinator for Montenegro Nizaheta Kurpejović-Cikotić - Barbara Fabro from the CEI – Executive Secretariat proudly presented the winners of the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism. This year, the focus was on the role of investigative journalism in raising public awareness of critical issues in the environment, agriculture/food security, and health sectors, with special attention to stories advocating for transparency and good governance as regards practices, procedures, and funding.
Under the category “Professional Journalists” the winner is Adrian Mogoş from Romania.
Mogoş is a freelance journalist and founder of the media platform newsromania.net, with an extensive experience in investigative reporting as editor for the Romanian Centre for Investigative Journalism and the Jurnalul National daily, but also accredited as a researcher with the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. He has devoted many investigations to critical environmental issues and has actively participated in regional investigative projects. The jury recognised the high professional standards of Mogos’ work, his courageous endeavour and great commitment in raising public awareness on important questions, especially considering the difficult working conditions for a freelance journalist and the limited budget available in a complex media landscape.
The CEI strives to safeguard media freedom and pluralism and acts as a platform for implementing appropriate activities in this respect (CEI Plan of Action 2024-2026).
Under the category “Young Professional Journalists”, the winners ex aequo are Dino Cviko from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Giorgio Michalopoulos from Italy. Investigative journalist for the online magazine Žurnal with a focus on in-depth research and disclosure of major social and political issues, Cviko gave voice to one of the most vulnerable groups in society providing a comprehensive and reliable report having a strong impact on the healthcare system. The jury praised his work for the accurate research and data collection revealing the problems, challenges and needs not only of the affected people, but also of the other actors involved.
Michalopoulos is a freelance investigative journalist working for Voxeurop. Together with his team member Stefano Valentino, he has carried out major investigative work focusing on greenwashing practices, disclosing the threats and risks especially as regards the impact on the actors involved. The jury greatly valued the cross-border dimension of his work and acknowledged the contribution to raising public awareness on a topical environmental question undermining the global efforts towards sustainability.
The jury also assigned a special mention to Taras Zozulinskyy (Ukraine) from "Detectives", Cornelia Cozonac (Moldova) from the Center for Investigative Journalism from Moldova, Elvin Luku (Albania) from MediaLook, Saša Dragoljo (Serbia) from Balkan Insight/BIRN, Belgrade, Jovana Georgievski (Serbia) from BBC News Serbian, Ivana Milosavljević (Serbia) from the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia-CINS.
The independent jury was composed of: Saša Leković (Croatia), freelance journalist, investigative reporting trainer; Goran Đurović (Montenegro), director, Media Centre NGO; Marina Constantinoiu (Romania), editor Digi24.ro; Federico Caruso (Italy), journalist at Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa; Jure Tepina (Slovenia), editor in chief 24ur.com PRO PLUS, d.o.o; with the coordination of Barbara Fabro (CEI) and Oliver Vujovic (SEEMO).
The CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism is meant to promote high-quality investigative journalism and acknowledge the efforts of investigative journalists often working under difficult conditions in the context of threats to media freedom and personal safety.
For more info: fabro@cei.int
