Recognising impactful journalism that brings vital issues in the Western Balkans and Türkiye to light
The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2024 has concluded, celebrating powerful stories from the Western Balkans and Türkiye that have illuminated crucial issues. This year’s awards honour fearless journalism that champions freedom of expression, and transparency, covering impactful topics shaping national and regional landscapes.
These are the stories that made a difference:
ALBANIA
First prize:
Anesti Barjamemaj, Vladimir Karaj
Reporter.al, The Voice of America
Environmental crime: The Sharra landfill “extracts black water”’ from the Erzen river
(Krim mjedisor: Landfilli i Sharrës ‘i nxjerr ujin e zi’ lumit të Erzenit)
Second prize:
Ola Xama
Reporter.al
The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Erion Veliaj, says SPAK
(Projekti i inceneratorit të Tiranës u propozua nga Erion Veliaj, thotë SPAK)
Third prize:
Geri Emiri, Aida Ciro, Aleksandar Dimitrievski
Amfora.al
The “Exclusive IPARD Club”: Who “farms” the EU funds in Albania and North Macedonia?!
(“Klubi Ekskluziv IPARD”: Kush po i “korr” fondet në Shqipëri dhe në Maqedoninë e Veriut?!)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
First prize:
1. Nino Bilajac, Selma Učanbarlić
Detektor.ba
Inside eMagnetix’s million-dollar scam and how the “dream job” turned into a nightmare
(Unutar milionske prevare eMagnetixa i kako je “posao iz snova” postao noćna mora)
2. Arduana Pribinja
Al Jazeera Balkans
Accusations of female patients for sexual harassment in the hospital in Zenica
(Optužbe pacijentica za seksualno uznemiravanje u bolnici u Zenici)
Second prize:
Dejan Rakita
mislioprirodi.ba
TRGOVSKA GORA: Why and how it was chosen, what exactly is being built there and what dangers it brings us
(TRGOVSKA GORA: Zašto i kako je izabrana, šta se tamo tačno gradi i kakve opasnosti nam donosi)
Third prize:
1. Azhar Kalamujić
Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo
Call Bey for parking
(Nazovi Bega radi parkinga)
2. Azra Omerović, Zinaida Đelilović
Žurnal
International University in Goražde: Received a doctor of dentistry degree even though the faculty had no enrolled students
(Internacionalni univerzitet u Goraždu: Dobila diplomu doktora stomatologije iako fakultet nije imao upisanih studenata)
KOSOVO
First prize:
Behar Mustafa, Kreshnik Gashi
Kallxo.com
Corruption file
(Dosja e Korrupsionit)
Second prize:
Alberta Hashani
Betimi për Drejtësi/KTV
Prosecutor Biraj allegedly took bribes to fail the charge for 130 kg of drugs
(Prokurori Biraj dyshohet se mori ryshfet për të dështuar akuzën për 130 kg drogë)
Third prize:
1. Dafina Halili
Kosovo 2.0
Sexual harassment goes unpunished at the University of Prishtina
(Ngacmimi seksual kalon pa u ndëshkuar në Universitetin e Prishtinës)
2. Dardan Hoti, Aulonë Kadriu
Kosovo 2.0
‘If the videos are posted, I will lose everything’
(“Nëse dalin videot, unë kam m’i hupë krejt”)
MONTENEGRO
First prize:
1. Tatjana Ašanin, Nikola Milosavić Aleksić
Televizija Vijesti
“In murky waters” (Podgorica water supply and sewage system)
(“U mutnim vodama” (Podgorički vodovod i kanalizacija))
2. Svetlana Đokić i Milica Babić
TV E
Massacre of responsibilities
(Masakr odgovornosti)
Second prize:
Đurđa Radulović
Balkan Insight
“No one checks”: Purchase of prohibited pesticides in Montenegro
(„Niko ne provjerava“: Kupovina zabranjenih pesticida u Crnoj Gori)
Third prize:
Andrea Perišić
Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Crne Gore
SMUGGLING OF MONTENEGRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES: They blow up, sell and destroy heritage without punishment
(KRIJUMČARENJE CRNOGORSKOG ARHEOLOŠKOG BLAGA: Raznose, prodaju i uništavaju baštinu bez kazne)
NORTH MACEDONIA
First prize:
Irena Mulachka
Fokus
Scandal Oncology (Скандал Oнкологија)
Second prize:
Miomir Serafinovikj, Snezhana Lupevska Sozen
TV Telma, KOD
KOD: Zajas family tree, Soravia, electricity, diplomacy (КОД: Семејно стебло Зајас, Соравиа, струја, дипломатија)
Third prize:
Aleksandar Metodijev, Suzana Miceva
Nota.mk
The fragile forests (Кревките шуми)
SERBIA
First prize:
Ivana Milosavljević, Teodora Ćurčić, Vladimir Kostić
CINS
CINS in the SNS call center: Agency for hostesses, buying votes and the millions in cash
(CINS u kol centru SNS-a: Agencija za hostese, kupovina glasova i milioni u kešu)
Second prize:
Gordana Andrić, Aleksandar Đorđević
BIRN
Fake payments, fake lectures: How millions of euros for the vulnerable ended up in someone else’s pockets
(Lažirane isplate, fiktivna predavanja: Kako su milioni evra za ugrožene završili u tuđim džepovima)
Third prize:
1. Radmilo Marković
BIRN
Belgrade – a paradise for wild and suspicious construction legislation: BIRN found almost half a million square meters of suspicious square meters
(Beograd – raj za divlju gradnju i sumnjiva ozakonjenja: BIRN našao skoro pola miliona spornih kvadrata)
First prize:
Asuman Aranca Kol
T24
T24 Accessed the Expert Report in the Sinan Ateş Murder Case: Ateş’s address was requested by the President of the Grey Wolves
(Sinan Ateş Cinayeti Dosyasındaki Bilirkişi Raporuna T24 Ulaştı: Ateş’in adresini Ülkü Ocakları Başkanı istemiş)
Second prize:
Murat Ağırel
Cumhuriyet
The Turkish Red Crescent sold tents to AHBAP during earthquake panic
(Kızılay, deprem telaşında AHBAP’a çadır sattı)
Third prize:
Hale Gönültaş, Thalys Augusto de Alcantara Anjos
Artigercek.com, Metrepoles.com
Süleymancılar brought children from Brazil’s Amazon Forests to Türkiye
(Süleymancılar Brezilya’daki Amazon Ormanlarından Türkiye’ye Çocuk Getirdi)
Special recognition was awarded to Tunca Öğreten and Murat Baykara for their impactful, ethical coverage of Türkiye’s drug crisis, shedding light on a hidden yet critical public issue.
REGIONAL WINNERS
First prize:
Ksenija Pavkov
N1
Under the surface: In the net
(Ispod površine: U mreži)
Second prize:
Saša Dragojlo
Balkan Insight
Albanian-Supplied AKs Fuel Violence on Refugee Route through Serbia
(Albanska veza: Kalašnjikovi raspiruju rat krijumčarskih bandi na severu Srbije)
Third prize:
Vanja Stokić, Ajdin Kamber
eTrafika.net
Ambiguous loss, Documentary film Brother
(Nezaključeni gubitak, Dokumentarni film Brat)
Congratulations to all the winners for their dedication, courage, and commitment to truth in journalism.
The EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2024 is part of the project “Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II”. The project is funded by the European Union, and it is implemented by a consortium composed of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – BIRN Hub, Central European University (CEU) – Hungary, Association of Journalists (AJ) – Türkiye, Thomson Media (TM) – Germany, University Goce Delcev Stip (UGD) – North Macedonia, The Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) – North Macedonia, Media Association of South-East Europe (MASE) – Montenegro and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Kosovo (BIRN Kosovo).
