13 April 2015

EU Award for Investigative Journalism

Invitation for participation in the contest for EU award for investigative journalism
Kosovo/2015

Context
The EU award for investigative journalism aims at celebrating and promoting outstanding achievements of investigative journalists and improving the visibility of quality investigative journalism in the Western Balkans countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and Turkey.
The award is established by the European Commission, DG Enlargement, following the EU Enlargement strategy which recognizes strong need for ensuring freedom of expression in the media, and for support to investigative journalism to monitor the reform processes and to keep the historical momentum toward the EU accession.
The EU award for investigative journalism will be given each year in each of seven countries in the period of three years: in 2015 (rewarding the investigative journalism works and achievements in 2014), in 2016 (for achievements in 2015) and in 2017 (for achievements in 2016).
The award fund for seven beneficiary countries for three years in total is 210,000 EUR. Annual award fund for each country is 10,000 EUR; 1-3 journalists shall be awarded in each country each year; 3000- 5000 EUR per individual prize is to be awarded.
The award is administered by the regional partnership of civil society organisations, coordinated by the Peace Institute in Ljubljana, which was selected for that task by the European Commission. The European Commission will supervise and approve each important step in the awarding procedures.

Invitation for nominations
Press Council of Kosovo as a member of the regional partnership of civil society organisations which is administering the EU award for investigative journalism is seeking for nominations for the award for:
Investigative stories published between 1 January – 31 December 2014 reporting on societal issues related to abuse of power and fundamental rights, corruption and organised crime in Kosovo that otherwise would not have been brought to the public’s attention.
It is possible to nominate for the EU award the investigative stories published or broadcasted at any type of media in Kosovo: print, radio, TV, online or combination of those.
A journalist or a group of journalists can be nominated for the award for investigative stories published between 1 January – 31 December 2014, reporting on societal issues related to abuse of power and fundamental rights, corruption and organised crime in Kosovo that otherwise would not have been brought to the public’s attention.
It is possible to nominate for the award the investigative stories published or broadcasted in the media in Kosovo (for the audience of Kosovo) in official language(s), minority language(s) or international languages.
Nominations for investigative stories published in the media in Kosovo (for the audience of Kosovo) in languages other than official language(s) of Kosovo (minority or ethnic group language, international language) should be complemented with translation in the official language(s) of the country.
The award fund in Kosovo in 2015 (for achievements in 2014) is 10,000 Euro.
Up to three best entries will be awarded.
The individual award prize ranges between 3000 and 5000 Euro.
In cooperation with The Guardian Foundation the best investigative story in the region will be selected from the winners of the seven country contests. The author shall be invited to study visit The Guardian/Observer.
The deadline for submission of entries is 15 April, 2015
For more information please write us: euaward@presscouncil-ks.org