Six investigative journalism projects in five countries will receive support from the granting scheme of the project “South East European Media Observatory”. The independent jury decided to award one project from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and two proposals from Macedonia.

The judging panel reviewed 23 valid applications for the call for proposals to disclose corrupt practices undermining the proper functioning of free, independent, pluralistic and viable media in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia. Each applicant will be informed individually about the decision of the jury by the Center for Independent Journalism Budapest which administers the call on behalf of the project partners’ consortium.

The international jury included investigative reporters and editors with international expertise: Stefan Candea, Director and Co-founder of the Romanian Centre for Investigative Journalism; Sasa Lekovic, Director of the Investigative Journalism Center, Zagreb and András Lőke, Chairman of the Board of the SOMA Foundation Budapest, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ittlakunk.hu.

This investigative journalism supporting scheme is part of the project “South East European Media Observatory – Building Capacities and Coalitions for Monitoring Media Integrity and Advancing Media Reforms” which aims at supporting integrity both in public service and commercial media in South East Europe. This call sought proposals to result in new, substantial information gained and presented through investigative journalism tools about practices and cases of corruption, clientelism and abusive, excessive control of the media by particular interests.

Further information: ilona.moricz@cij.hu