In Sarajevo today, awarding of EU prizes for investigative journalism

(Patria) - The awarding of European Union prizes for the best investigative stories of 2021 will take place today in Sarajevo.

While observing epidemiological measures, the event will be organized in the future Reporters' House space as part of the BIRN Open House event.

The prize fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2021 (for achievements in 2020) amounts to 10,000 euros. The first prize is 5,000, the second 3,000, and the third 2,000 euros.

This year's awards relate to investigative works published from January 1 to December 31, 2020, which deal with topics from the areas of freedom of expression, rule of law, transparency, abuse of power, corruption, and disrespect for fundamental human rights.

The Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Johann Sattler, will address the attendees, while the jury members will present the three best stories from 2020.

This year's jury for the EU award consisted of: Chairman Zlatan Musić, Head of the Media Freedom Program at the OSCE Mission to BiH, and members Davor Glavaš, long-time journalist and media expert, Project Manager of the Balkans Media Assistance Program for media assistance in the Western Balkans, and Slavoljub Šćekić, Editor-in-Chief of the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro.

The EU Award for Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey promotes outstanding achievements of investigative journalists and aims to improve the visibility of quality investigative journalism in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

This continues the implementation of the project of regional EU awards for investigative journalism in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey, as well as part of the current project "Raising the Quality of News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkan Countries and Turkey".

All involved project partners have broad expertise in the field of media freedom and are recognized locally and internationally as strong independent media organizations.

The awards are given annually in all six Western Balkan countries and Turkey, according to BIRN Hub.