Investigative journalism as a shield for environmental justice
In the borderlands between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia lies Trgovska Gora, a site at the heart of an environmental controversy. Dejan Rakita, the second-prize winner of the EU Investigative Journalism Award 2024 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has illuminated the high-stakes implications of Croatia’s plan to store low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste near the Una River.
Rakita’s interest in the issue dates back years, but the turning point came in 2019 during a meeting between Croatian and Slovenian delegations in Bled.
“It was decided that radioactive waste from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant would be stored near the Bosnian border. Croatian officials disregarded Bosnia and Herzegovina’s potentially severe impacts. “This issue’s magnitude, affecting over 250,000 people and risking environmental damage, compelled me to act”, Rakita says.
He describes a mixed experience: “While Croatian politicians and NEK Fund representatives communicated openly, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not answer any of my questions. This lack of transparency mirrored institutional practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
However, a shocking revelation emerged – Trgovska Gora was slated for the storage and processing of institutional radioactive waste throughout Croatia , which elevates the risks significantly.
Rakita notes that the investigative approach involved exhaustive documentation review, direct interviews, and multimedia storytelling. Social media and professional platforms like Linkedin helped him access international expert perspectives.
The centrepiece was an unedited video interview with Josip Lebegner, the NEK Fund director, providing transparency and depth to my report, Rakita shares.
Rakita’s investigation garnered widespread public interest and media attention. State institutions remained silent, but citizens appreciated the story’s clarity and depth. Intriguingly, Croatian experts also acknowledged the risks, underlining the issue’s complexity, he says.
“While Bosnia and Herzegovina’s officials have largely been inactive, I believe the article shaped public discourse in Croatia. This story will remain relevant, especially as Croatia’s plans for 2028 approach.”
Citizens, experts, and even NEK Fund representatives responded positively, congratulating Rakita on his award.
“What surprised me, something that doesn’t often happen to investigative journalists—was that representatives from the NEK Fund reached out to congratulate me on the award I received for the story on Trgovska Gora, despite the article’s critical approach to the issue and the NEK Fund being at the center of my story”, Rakita notes.
He adds that environmental issues, in particular, deserve more attention across the region, as they often involve ordinary citizens and corporate-political networks”
Rakita believes tackling complex environmental stories requires dedication, an objective approach, and preparation for challenges.
