2023
EU Investigative Journalism Award – North Macedonia
Award: 2nd prize
Winner: Frosina Dimeska
For: outstanding investigative journalism in North Macedonia. Dimeska’s work exposed a significant scandal involving a controversial Ukrainian figure, Oleksandr Onishchenko, who managed to obtain a North Macedonian passport despite being under sanctions from both the United States and Ukraine, where the authorities sought his extradition.
The judges recognised the impact of Dimeska’s investigation, which lead to the government revoking Onishchenko’s North Macedonian citizenship. However, no individuals have been held accountable for the scandal till now.
Srdjan Aleksic Award
Award: in the ‘Contribution to the Community’ category
Winner: Haris Rovcanin
For: his work on the Database of Judicially Established Facts about the War in Bosnia. The Database of Judicially Determined Facts is a project of BIRN BiH supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund, aimed at creating fact-based sources of information, which can be used for educational and informational purposes, thus contributing to combating disinformation and to improving media literacy.
CEI SEEMO Award
Award: in the ’Young Professional Journalists’ category
Winner: Azra Husaric Omerovic
For: her investigative work producing the story ‘Bosnian Leukaemia Patient Dies After Anti-Medical Advice from ‘Healer’ about a group of self-styled healers that led to a tragic death, a valuable example of commitment to uncovering lesser-known stories in a modern and multimedia format.
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: 2nd prize
Winner: Dzana Brkanic and Lamija Grebo
For: an investigation, ‘Suspended Sentences Do not Prevent the Spread of Hate’, which was based on verdicts passed down before all courts in Bosnia over a ten-year period. It revealed also that there was no unified system for registering such crimes, which has made the monitoring and investigating of those cases more difficult.
Dusan Bogavac Award
Award: for journalistic ethics and courage
Winner: Sasa Dragojlo
For: recognition of ethics and courage in journalism. Zeljko Bodrozic, president of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, IJAS, said Dragojlo had been recognised for “courageously and professionally investigating and informing the public about important topics of general interest for years, such as the corrupt business of selling ammunition production machines, the war between smugglers in the north of Vojvodina, money laundering through the construction of residential and commercial buildings throughout Serbia, and the recent armed conflict in Banjska.”
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Serbia
Award: 2nd prize
Winner: Jelena Zoric
For: series of stories about a psychiatrist who has been recording false diagnoses into his patients’ medical records for the sake of a clinical trial he participated in, and about the role that Serbian state institutions played in this trial.
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Serbia
Award: 3rd prize
Winner: Sasa Dragojlo
For: an investigation into Serbia’s exports of millions of euros’ worth of rockets to Myanmar in 2021, days after a military coup that has since triggered a civil war – ignoring the obligation that the government should revoke any arms export permit if conditions in the destination country change and if there is a risk that the arms might be used to violate human rights. Dragojlo received this award with colleagues Dina Djordjevic, Marija Ristic, and Jovana Tomic, with whom he worked on this investigation..
Srdjan Aleksic Award
Award: in the ‘Contribution to the Community’ category
Winner: Haris Rovcanin
For: his work on the Database of Judicially Established Facts about the War in Bosnia. The Database of Judicially Determined Facts is a project of BIRN BiH supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund, aimed at creating fact-based sources of information, which can be used for educational and informational purposes, thus contributing to combating disinformation and to improving media literacy.
Stanislav Stasa Marinkovic Award
Award: the prestigious award by the daily newspaper Danas
Winner: BIRN Serbia
For: journalistic courage and achievements in investigative and analytical reporting. In a statement, the jury said BIRN Serbia’s newsroom had produced so many important stories over the past 12 months that it was impossible to select just one journalist for the award. Its work confirmed BIRN Serbia’s status “as one of the most influential investigative media in Serbia”, it said. It is only the second time since 2000 that an entire newsroom has won the award.
Dejan Anastasijevic Investigative Award
Award: prestigious award in the online media category
Winner: Radmilo Markovic
For: his multimedia investigation that identified hundreds of buildings built in Belgrade without permits in the seven years since new construction legislation entered into force, and made legal via apparently illegal means.
Hero Harmony Award
Award: prize for education and research by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office – RYCO
Winner: Antigona Isufi
For: her article ‘Love divided: Kosovo-Serbian Couple Struggle to Build a Home in Disapproving Society’. The article was about Suzana Maric, a 25-year-old, from Novi Sad, Serbia, and Gent Sejdiu, also 25, from Ferizaj, Kosovo, for whom centuries-old enmity and the bloody war between the two countries have not been an obstacle to living together.
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Kosovo
Award: 1st prize
Winner: Kreshnik Gashi
For: his series, ‘Blerja e Kryeprokurorit I dhe II’ (Purchase of the Chief Prosecutor). This two-year investigation blew the lid off a high-profile corruption scandal involving a businessman and a prosecutor in Kosovo.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo, annual award
Award: best TV story of the year
Winner: Behar Mustafa
For: an investigation ’Brezovica Dossier’, a series of TV shows on politicians and business owners suspected of bribery in relation to construction without any criteria, which has destroyed the Kosovo mountain resort of Brezovica.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo, annual award
Award: best TV story of the year
Winner: Valon Fana
For: the story ’Trepça During Kurti Government’, which highlighted problems that the old giant Trepca is facing, including mismanagement, difficult working conditions, miners’ complaints, lack of investments and the absence of a state hand on the enterprise.
The Coalition of NGOs for child protection in Kosovo – KOMF, annual award
Award: in the field of children’s protection
Winner: Adelina Ahmeti
For: her story ‘Sex Crime File: How the Accused of Sexual Assault of a Student Was Released’, which resulted in an investigation that made the prosecution indict a second suspect who was previously somehow ‘forgotten’ and considered just as a witness.
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Albania
Award: 3rd prize
Winner: Anila Hoxha
For: her investigation ‘Sekret shtetëror’: Historia pa lavdi e degradimit të flotës ajrore shqiptare’, which explores the human and financial costs of helicopter contracts in Albania.
EU Investigative Journalism Award – Kosovo
Award: 1st prize
Winner: Kreshnik Gashi
For: his series, ‘Blerja e Kryeprokurorit I dhe II’ (Purchase of the Chief Prosecutor). This two-year investigation blew the lid off a high-profile corruption scandal involving a businessman and a prosecutor in Kosovo.
Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania, annual award
Award: Best media advocacy journalism for nature conservation
Winner: Blerina Gjoka
For: her story about the readiness of Albania’s government to set aside protected status for parts of the country’s coast in the interests of private investors set on building tourist villas and hotels.
2022
UNICEF’s contest for best media contribution to the promotion and protection of child’s rights in Bosnia
Award: Special recognition for media contribution to the promotion and protection of children’s rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022
Winner: Emina Dizdarevic for her analysis, “Experts Warn that New History Textbook in Tuzla Deepens Divisions”. In it, she explained that, as of April, elementary school pupils in the Tuzla Canton have learned about the 1992-5 war in more detail for the first time through a new appendix to the history textbook for grade nine, which experts call one-sided.
Winner: Jasmin Begic for analysis, “Central Bosnia Canton Does not Respect Verdict on Abolishing Segregation in Schools”, about the failure to respect court verdicts due to which pupils throughout Bosnia spent yet another school year in a segregated system.
EU Investigative Journalism Award
Award: 3rd prize
Winner: Saša Dragojlo for “People Smuggling: Money, Violence, and Ties to the Security Services”
Winner: Aleksandar Djordjevic and Miodrag Markovic for a series of stories on sorrupt mechanism in the electric power industry of Serbia.
EU Investigative Journalism Award
Award: 1st prize
Winner: Kreshnik Gashi, Visar Prebreza and Bahar Mustafa
For: Series of stories: ”The Justice on the Market”, “‘The North File”, “The Link Between the Company Which is on US Blacklist and the Investments in Ulcinj” and “Racketeers File: The Judge Negotiates the Case”
EU Investigative Journalism Award
Award: 1st prize
Winner: Klodiana Lala
For: The story “Albanian Crime Story: Hostage to the Cocaine Supply Chain” which reveals how the European cocaine trade, once dominated by mafias from Italy and Spain, is being transformed by new entrants. And it shows how the cost of this transformation “in terms of chronic corruption and sporadic violence“ is being diverted away from the market, to poorer countries such as Albania.
25th anniversary of Sarajevo Canton’s Memorial Fund
Award: Certificate of Appreciation for BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina
For: BIRN BiH’s contribution toward raising awareness about the importance of the culture of memory.
Peaceful Change Initiative Awards
Award: Second prize for the best stories about inter-ethnic coexistence
Winner: Serbeze Haxhiaj
For: Her article We are All Human’: Kosovo Albanian’s Generosity Sustains Elderly Serb, about a Serb pensioner who was living alone in a remote village in the hills of Kosovo and an Albanian neighbour who reached out across the country’s ethnic divide to help her.
Fetisov Journalism Awards 2021
Award: Second prize in Outstanding Contribution to Peace category
Winners: Haris Rovcanin, Albina Sorguc
For: The series of articles which include two investigative pieces “Bosnian Serb Military Police Chiefs Never Charged with Srebrenica Killings”, and “Serb Chetniks’ Links to War Criminals and Extremists Uncovered”, as well as a feature, “28 Years on, Families still Searching for Missing Bosnian Soldiers” and an analysis piece, “BIRN Fact Check: Is the Bosnian Serb Report on the Sarajevo Siege Accurate?”.
Speak Up for Procurement Awards organized by FOL Movement
Award: First prize
Winner: Valon Fana
For: Investigation “The Car Under the Ownership of Board Chairperson Purchased by Trafiku Urban Enterprise”. The investigation unveiled how the car belonging to the former chair of Trafiku Urban was purchased by the public enterprise through an open tender at a price two times higher than the market price.
Speak Up for Procurement Awards organized by FOL Movement
Award: Third prize
Winner: Egzon Dahsyla
For: Investigation “€460,000 was not enough for the Municipality of Gjakova to clean a landfill”. The investigation exposed how despite more than €460,000 being spent to clean, treat, and regenerate a legal landfill site in the Municipality of Gjakova, the landfill still exists, and promises were not fulfilled.
2021
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: Third prize
Winner: Dzana Brkanic
For: Story about fake humanitarian organisations deceiving citizens and collecting donations to build wells in African countries.
Environmental awards by NGO Çohu
Award: First prize
Winner: Egzon Dahsyla
Environmental awards by NGO Çohu
Award: Second prize
Winners: Antigona Isufi and Blerta Begisholli
For: Story “Urban chaos’ blamed for the disappearance of greenery in Kosovo“
Awards by Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Award: Journalist of the Year 2021
Winner: Kastriot Berisha
For: Reporting on the justice sector which had a great social reaction and which resulted in the launching of criminal investigations, disciplinary proceedings and the suspension of a judge, a decision that was confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Awards by Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Award: Best cameraman of the year 2021
Winner: Denis Sllovinja
For: Work on filming the story “Pilot since the age of 17” for which he used three technological devices: a drone, GO PRO and interview recording camera.
CEI SEEMO journalism awards
Award: Special mention
Winner: Nermina Kuloglija
For: Dedicated work on monitoring public procurement during the coronavirus pandemic.
Irish Food Writing Awards
Award: Investigative Writing on Food Award
Winner: Niall Sargeant for work published in Noteworthy.ie
For: Four-month investigation by BIRN and Noteworthy into the working conditions of the migrant workers that big Irish producers depend on at a harvest time.
Investigative journalism competition organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania
Award: First prize
Winner: Anila Hoxha
For: Investigation “PPP Sterilisation Contract Costs Healthcare System Dearly”, which shed light on how doctors in Albania struggle to save patients’ lives while keeping costs under control due to a problematic public-private partnership contract for the supply of surgical instruments that was signed with a health consortium that has political ties.
Best reporting of the year organized by the Albanian Union of Journalists
Award: Award for best reporting of the year
Winner: Jerola Ziaj
For: Investigations on falsification of property documents in the Albanian Riviera
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Serbia
Award: Second prize
Winners: Sasa Dragojlo and Dragana Peco
For: Story “Folic’s New Business with Old Acquaintances” where they brought a detailed breakdown of the work of a high public official, Milutin Folic, who has started a private business in the meantime but is inseparably linked to his previous position.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Serbia
Award: Third prize
Winner: Natalija Jovanovic
For: Story “Serbia Under-Reported COVID-19 Deaths and Infections, Data Shows”, which revealed the manipulation of the death toll from the coronavirus during 2020.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Albania
Award: Third prize
Winners: Anila Hoxha and Esmeralda Keta
For: Story “Albanian Govt Accused of Manipulating Pandemic Aid Data”, a thorough investigation into the support given to poor families in the pandemic and the response of the state administration in this field.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Albania
Award: Second prize for a story of exceptional quality
Winners: Geri Emiri
For: Series of investigative stories into the 2019 earthquake in Albania and the shoddy conductions of buildings in the port of Durres, which brought about their collapse and left many victims.
Plaque by Association of Journalists and Media Workers
Award: Plaque
Winners: Denis Dzidic
For: Commitment to monitoring and reporting on war crimes cases and topics related to dealing with the past.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Kosovo
Award: Third place for the story of exceptional quality
Winners: Kreshnik Gashi and Adelina Ahmeti
For: A story about illegal gambling in a village of Karaçeva by Kreshnik Gashi and Adelina Ahmeti won third prize as a story of exceptional quality.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Kosovo
Award: First place for the best investigative story
Winners: Jeta Xharra and Visar Prebreza
For: Investigative story, “Unclean energy: A Kosovar who owned the sun”, about a Kosovo businessman who stands behind six companies registered in Malta, reaping millions of euros from the sale of solar energy – in violation of anti-monopoly rules.
EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Montenegro
Award: Third award for a story of exceptional quality
Winners: Sasa Dragojlo, Vladimir Orskovic and Marko Vesovic
For: Investigative story “Son of Fugitive Ex-President Builds Raspberry Fortune in Serbia“, revealing how Serbia serves as a ‘safe haven’ for the family of the fugitive Montenegrin former politician Svetozar Marovic.
Speak Up for Procurement Awards organized by FOL Movement
Award: Third prize for investigation on public procurement
Winners: Valon Fana and Vyrtyte Gervalla
For: The story “Municipality led by Gazmend Muhaxheri provides a tender for the family of Ramiz Kelmendi” which revealed how a tender awarded by the Municipality of Peja to supply food and other products to families in need led to a 1,000 euro profit for a business ran by the family of Ramiz Kelmendi, a former MP.
Speak Up for Procurement Awards organized by FOL Movement
Award: First prize for investigation on public procurement
Winners: Dorentina Kastrati
For: The investigation “The scheme that guaranteed a tender of around 400,000 euros for the Minister of Trade and Industry’s brother” which revealed that a company that was designated 400,000 euros to construct a school by the Municipality of Malisheva, Themeli, was owned by the brother of Vesel Krasniqi, who was then serving as the Minister of Trade and Industry at the time. The municipality is run by NISMA, the same political party that Krasniqi represented in the ministry.
The Dejan Anastasijevic Investigative Award
Award: First prize in the online media category by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia and the US embassy in Belgrade
Winners: Natalija Jovanovic, BIRN Serbia
For: The report ‘Serbia Under-Reported COVID-19 Deaths and Infections, Data Shows’.
‘Investigative Journalism on EnvironMEntal Issues, with Citizens’ Engagement’ project.
Award: First prize for the best investigative story in Montenegro by the Center for Civic Education
Winners: Mustafa Canka
For: The BIRN report: ‘Beneath the Surface: Adriatic Beach Waste Just “Tip of the Iceberg”’,
The OSCE Presence in Albania
Award: The best investigative story for 2020
Winners: Rashela Shehu and Fiori Sinoruka
For: The BIRN report: ‘Lack of Scientific Research Leaves Albania in Ruins’
Dialogue for the Future, DFF: Fostering Dialogue and Social Cohesion
Award: for tackling topical issue of foreign influences on Balkans.
Winners: Mladen Obrenovic, BIRN BiH.
For: an article on the Balkan Cossack army.
2020
Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo, KOMF
Award: Awards for Journalism on Social and Child Protection.
Winners: Behar Mustafa, a journalist at KALLXO.com, and Agon Sinanaj, who contributed an investigative story to BIRN’s English language newspaper Prishtina Insight.
For: Mustafa was awarded for his TV reportage, “Smuggling Children to Italy,” which was broadcast as part of BIRN’s Justice in Kosovo television programme. The story shed light on minors aged 16 to 18 being smuggled from Kosovo to Italy, with the investigation following the whole journey.
Freelance journalist Sinanaj was awarded for his feature story for Prishtina Insight, which looked into the lives of families caring for children with disabilities. The article was also published on BIRN’s KALLXO.com.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Serbia
Award: Second prize.
Winners: Jelena Veljkovic and Aleksandar Djordjevic, BIRN Serbia.
For: The series of articles about the so-called Krusik affair, which centred on alleged corruption at the state-owned Krusik arms company.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Kosovo
Award: First and third prize.
Winners: Serbeze Haxhiaj, Radio Television of Kosovo and BIRN Hub, and Kreshnik Gashi and Aferdita Fejzullahu, BIRN Kosovo.
For: First award went to Serbeze Haxhiaj for her investigation “Kosovo’s Invisible Children: The Secret Legacy of Wartime Rape.” This story for the first time revealed facts of concrete cases of children born from rape during the independence war in Kosovo.
Kreshnik Gashi and Aferdita Fejzullahu of BIRN Kosovo were awarded third place for their story, “Network of AAK family companies, concrete the highway Prishtina-Gjilan.”
Human Rights House
Award: For outstanding commitment to the protection, respect and promotion of human rights.
Winner: Natalija Jovanovic, BIRN Serbia.
For: Investigative story “Serbia Under-Reported COVID-19 Deaths and Infections, Data Shows”.
International Chamber of Commerce in Albania
Award: Integrity Award.
Winner: BIRN Albania.
For: Enabling high-quality investigative journalism, full coverage and neutrality of current events in the country related to the implementation of the rule of law, and for contributing to the further development of democracy in Albania.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: First prize.
Winner: Semir Mujkic, BIRN BiH.
For: A series of articles on Russian influence in the country presenting an original and comprehensive overview of pro-Russian actors, associations and groups and their local political supporters.
Srdjan Aleksic Journalist Award
Award: Category of nominations by journalists.
Winner: Emina Dizdarevic, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: Three articles on the challenges facing marginalised groups in Bosnian society.
UNICEF Awards in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: “Internet Work” category for contribution to the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
Winner: Azra Husaric, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: Article titled “Parents Bear Biggest Burden of Online Classes for Children with Developmental Difficulties”
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Award: 2020 Prize for Economic Journalism in Kosovo.
Winner: Visar Prebreza and Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo
For: Investigation: “Unclean Energy: The Kosovar who would Own the Sun.”
Central European Initiative CEI and the South East Europe Media Organisation SEEMO
Award: CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism.
Winner: Natalija Jovanovic, BIRN Serbia, and Esmeralda Keta, a contributor to BIRN Albania’s Reporter.al and to BIRN’s regional publication Balkan Insight.
For: Investigative stories covering issues related to the coronavirus crisis.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: First place.
Winner: Klodiana Lala, BIRN Albania contributor.
For: Investigative story “Wiretaps Reveal the Role of Organised Crime in Vote Buying.”
Biti Novinar Association from Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: Nino Catic Journalism Award.
Winner: Denis Dzidic, director of BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: long-term reporting about the Srebrenica genocide and for contributing to preserving the truth about the July 1995 mass killings.
European Press Prize
Award: Special Award for 2020.
Winner: BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: for its reporting on war crimes trials, transitional justice issues and the problems faced by victims of the 1990’s conflict.
The Independent Journalists Association of Serbia and the US embassy in Belgrade
Award: the best investigative journalism story.
Winner: BIRN Serbia journalists Jelena Veljkovic and Aleksandar Djordjevic.
For: for a series of articles about the father of the Serbian interior minister’s involvement in arms trading.
Reporters Without Borders Austria
Award: Press Freedom Award – A Signal for Europe.
Winner: BIRN Network.
For: its courageous investigative journalism in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and for its dedication to the fight for human rights, democracy and justice for the victims of war crimes.
The Macedonian Media Institute
Award: award for best investigative story of the year 2019.
Winner: BIRN Macedonia.
For: the story ‘Alive and Well: The Lucrative Business Club around REK Bitola’ by journalist Vlado Apostolov.
BeFem award [a Serbian feminist cultural centre]
Award: A Feminist Achievement Award for 2019.
Winner: Sofija Torodovic, BIRN Hub.
For: The award for informing the public about the case of Albanian neighbour who was targeted by local nationalists. BeFem gives the award to honour significant feminist initiatives, as well as collectives and individuals who show how to make change through collective action and solidarity.
2019
Rexhai Surroi Journalism Prize [by Pristina-based media house Koha Group]
Award: best written work of the year.
Winner: Serbeze Haxhiaj, BIRN Hub’s programme Balkan Transitional Justice.
For: article Kosovo’s Invisible Children: The Secret Legacy of Wartime Rape.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: First prize.
Winner: Esmeralda Keta and Elisa Gjerani.
For: investigative article Premature Baby Deaths Rise in Albania’s Cash-starved Hospitals created through BIRN Albania’s call for investigative grants.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: Third prize.
Winner: Ola Mitre.
For: For investigative article The Hidden Costs of Free Cardio Surgeries in Private Hospitals created through BIRN Albania’s call for investigative grants.
Srdjan Aleksic Journalist Award
Award: Special plaque.
Winner: BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: continuous professional reporting over many years on the most sensitive issues, such as war crime trials at the state court and the rights of marginalised groups.
Cohu, the anti-corruption and good governance NGO
Award: Environmental awards in Kosovo.
Winner: Koha Ditore journalist Besnik Krasniq; RTK journalist Edona Musa; Drenushe Ramadani, a journalist from BIRN Kosovo’s site Kallxo.com.
For: three journalistic pieces all supported by BIRN.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Serbia
Award: Third prize.
Winner: Milos Stanic, an alumnus of BIRN’s Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme, BIRN Hub.
For: investigative article Toxic Taps: Arsenic in Water Stirs Cancer Fears
The Central European Initiative (CEI) and South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism
Award: Young Professional Journalists category.
Winner: Arlis Alikaj, an alumnus of BIRN’s Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme, BIRN Hub.
For: investigative article Chainsaw Gangs: The Plunder of Albania’s Ancient Forests.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Kosovo
Award: Second prize.
Winner: Serbeze Haxhiaj, BIRN Hub.
For: investigative article Kosovo’s Political Murders: Unpunished, Not Forgotten.
The Balkan Film Food Festival
Award: Fatos Baxhaku Prize as best documentary.
Winner: Elton Baxhaku, BIRN Albania.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Award: Second prize.
Winner: Semir Mujkic, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: Corruption in Public Procurements series (link, link, link).
The Macedonian National Council of the International Council of Museums
Award: For raising awareness about the poor condition of cultural heritage in the country.
Winner: Goce Trpkovski, BIRN Macedonia.
For: North Macedonia Leaves Priceless Heritage at Risk.
Stanislav Marinkovic award [by daily newspaper Danas, in Serbia]
Award: For journalistic courage and special achievements in research and analytical journalism.
Winner: Slobodan Georgiev, BIRN Serbia and Tatjana Lazarevic, editor-in-chief of the KoSSev website from Mitrovica in Kovoso.
For: Overall work.
Partners Albania for Change and Development
Award: the White Dove award.
Winner: BIRN Albania.
For: for the civil courage, professionalism and objectivity shown with investigative reports with a wide public impact.
The South East Europe Coalition of Whistleblower Protection
Award: Free Speech Award.
Winner: Klodiana Lala, a journalist for Albania’s News 24.
For: a story she produced using a BIRN reporting grant.
The Independent Journalists Association of Serbia and the US embassy in Belgrade
Award: the best investigative journalism story.
Winner: Jelena Veljkovic, BIRN Serbia.
For: a series of research articles (1), (2),(3), (4), (5) about illegal construction work on Mount Golija.
2018
Awarding body: ACCOUNT [anti-corruption network in BiH]
Award: Best multimedia investigation into corruption.
Winner: Semir Mujkic, BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For: Investigation into Bosnian goal supplier that used forged safety documents.
Belgrade International Green Culture Festival, Green Fest
Award: best Serbian film.
Winners: Dragan Gmizic, BIRN Serbia, Al Jazeera Balkans and WWF Adria, co-producers.
For: The Dark Shadow of Green Energy.
Network for Affirmation of the NGO Sector [MANS, Montenegro]
Award: best story using freedom of information requests in 2018.
Winner: Sanja Rasovic, BIRN Hub, freelance journalist.
For: Local Chiefs’ Financial Abuses Blight Montenegrin Costal Town
Coalition for the Protection of Children, KOMF, [an NGO in Kosovo], in cooperation with the Forum ZFD and the Center for the Education of Kosovo
Award: best reporting on the rights of children in Kosovo.
Winner: BIRN Kosovo.
For: three journalistic pieces.
[Macedonian] Nikola Mladenov award for investigative reporting
Award: Second prize.
Winner: BIRN Macedonia.
For: database on foreign investments announced by the Macedonian government from 2007 to 2016.
Serbian Contemporary Short and Documentary Film Festival [in Washington]
Award: Audience’s award.
Winners: Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina and BIRN Kosovo.
For: The documentary, Kosovo… Nazdravlje! Gëzuar!
2017
Global Investigative Journalism Network, GIJN
Award: Special recognition, certificate of excellence.
Winners: BIRN Hub and BIRN Kosovo.
For: The investigation, Making a Killing.
UN Kosovo and the Kosovo Journalists’ Association, AGK
Award: Kosovo Journalism Poverty Prize.
Winner: Serbeze Haxhiaj, BIRN Hub.
For: The Enduring Agony of Wartime Rape in Kosovo
Kosovo Journalists’ Association, AGK, and German Corporation for International Cooperation, GIZ
Award: Best story on education.
Winner: Doruntia Baliu, BIRN Kosovo.
For: The Silence on Falsifying Grades
Forum on the Arms Trade [network of civil society experts, managed from Washington]
Award: Best article.
Winners: BIRN Hub and BIRN Kosovo.
For: The Pentagon’s $2.2 Billion Soviet Arms Pipeline Flooding Syria
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: Best article by a young investigative journalist.
Winner: Elvis Nabolli, BIRN Hub, a 2016 fellow of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence.
For: An Albanian War on Drugs.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Macedonia
Award: First prize.
Winner: Aleksandar Dimitrievski, BIRN Macedonia.
For: Database on agricultural subsidies in Macedonia.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Serbia
Award: Second prize.
Winner: Dragan Gmizic, BIRN Serbia.
For: The documentary, Flatland without Birds?
Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia
Award: best investigations in print media.
Winner: Jelena Veljkovic, BIRN Serbia.
For: The Secret of Vucic’s Tavern
And;
Award: best investigation in online media.
Winner: BIRN Hub and BIRN Kosovo.
For: Making a Killing, the 1.2 billion euro arms pipelines to the Middle East.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Kosovo
Award: Second prize.
Winners: Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo, and Faik Ispahiu, Internews Kosovo.
For: The Organised Tax Fraud.
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Award: ‘Yasar Erebara’ award [annual].
Winner: Vlado Apostolov, BIRN Macedonia.
For: Three investigative articles on properties linked to the former chair of the Council in the Skopje Municipality of Centre.
2016
Nikola Mladenov award [annual, in Macedonia]
Award: Best investigative reporting.
Winner: BIRN Macedonia team.
For: Skopje 2014 Uncovered.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Serbia
Award: First prize.
Winner: Aleksandar Djordjevic, BIRN Serbia.
For: Draining the Mine and the Budget.
And;
Award: Third prize.
Winner: BIRN Hub and BIRN Kosovo investigative team.
For: Veselinovic-linked Consortium Bags 75m Dollar Contract in Secret Deal.
Independent Association of Serbian Journalists and US embassy in Belgrade
Award: Best investigative story in print media.
Winner: Aleksandar Djordjevic, BIRN Serbia.
For: article on Belgrade Business School which, under pressure from officials, unlawfully lent 7 million euros to indebted companies that were unlikely to repay the money.
South East European Film Festival, Los Angeles
Award: Best short documentary.
Winner: Marija Ristic, BIRN Hub.
For: The Unidentified.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: First prize.
Winner: Leonard Bakillari, BIRN Albania.
For:Albanian Judges’ Wealth Escapes Scrutiny.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Macedonia
Award: First prize.
Winner: Boris Georgievski, BIRN Macedonia.
For: a series of investigations, “Dossier Telecom”.
Award: Second prize.
For: the database Skopje 2014 Uncovered.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Kosovo
Award: Second prize.
Winner: Parim Olluri, BIRN Kosovo.
For: The friend of Lushtaku benefits from Vala.
Belgrade International Green Culture Festival, Green Fest
Award: best Serbian film
Winner: author Dragan Gmizic, BIRN Serbia.
For: The documentary, Flatland without Birds?
Kosovo Journalists’ Association, UNDP in Kosovo, Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency and BIRN Kosovo
Award: Best anti-corruption story on TV.
Winner: Naim Krasniqi, BIRN Kosovo.
For: The Wrong Lunch.
Central European Initiative and the South East Europe Media Organisation, CEI SEEMO
Award: Best investigations on corruption and organised crime.
Winner: Lindita Cela, BIRN Albania.
For: overall work.
2015
Independent Association of Serbian Journalists
Award: Jug Grizelj prize for contribution to investigative work.
Winner: BIRN Serbia team.
For: overall work.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Albania
Award: First prize.
Winners: Aleksandra Bogdani and Flamur Vezaj, BIRN Albania.
For: three articles on the recruitment of Albanians to fight for radical Islamists in Syria.
And;
Award: Third prize.
Winner: Besar Likmeta, BIRN Albania.
For: Lobby Firm Behind Campaign to Smear Albanian Socialist.
CEI SEEMO
Award: Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism, professional journalists’ category.
Winner: Aleksandra Bogdani, BIRN Albania.
For: Overall work.
Union of Albanian Journalists
Award: Vangjush Gambeta award.
Winner: Amire Qamili, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Isa Mustafa’s Sons Win Tenders of the Prime Minister Office.
Association of Journalists of Mitrovica
Award: Best Journalist of 2015.
Winner: Behar Mustafa, BIRN Kosovo.
And;
Award: Best Cameraperson of 2015.
Winner: Naser Fejza, BIRN Kosovo.
EU Investigative Journalism Awards for Kosovo
Award: Second prize.
Winners: Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo and kallxo.com team.
For: Scandals of Doctors with Stents.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association
Awards: ‘Best Culture Story’, ‘Best Reportage’ and ‘Best Filming’
Winners: BIRN Kosovo team.
Independent Association of Serbian Journalist and US embassy
Award: Best investigative journalism in the print media.
Winner: Slobodan Georgiev, BIRN Serbia.
For: Discovering the Secret of the Minister’s safe’, on the Etihad/ Airserbia contract.
2014
Independent Association of Serbian Journalists and US embassy
Award: Best investigative journalism in print media.
Winners: Slobodan Georgiev and Aleksandar Djordjevic, BIRN Serbia.
For: Marketing Stars in the Political Field.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association and UNDP in Kosovo
Award: Best Cultural Article.
Winner: Kaltrina Rexhepi, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Irregular Business Burden to Inheritance.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association and UNDP Kosovo
Award: Best online investigative journalism about poverty.
Winner: Nektar Zogjani and Tinka Kurti, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Misery of the Reconciliation Field Camp,’ on the harsh life of the inhabitants of the Pajtimi neighbourhood on the outskirts of Pristina.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association and UNDP Kosovo
Award: Best online anti-corruption story.
Winners: Parim Olluri and Petrit Collaku, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Negotiated Million
And;
Award: Best story in TV category.
Winner: Kreshnik Gashi, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Besimi does not go to Jail.
2013
UN Women and the group Security and Gender Equality in Kosovo
Award: Best TV journalism, first prize.
Winner: Jeta Xharra, director of BIRN Kosovo.
For: Programme on the Kosovo film director Blerta Zeqiri.
Independent Association of Serbian Journalists and US embassy
Award: Best investigative journalism in the online media.
Winner: Slobodan Georgiev, BIRN Serbia, and CINS Serbia team.
For: To BusPlus Through the Holes in The System, on the payment system on public transport in Belgrade.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association and UNDP Kosovo
Award: Best report on poverty, first prize.
Winner: Kaltrina Rexhepi, BIRN Kosovo.
For: Collective Apartments in Magura Have No Access to Water.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association
Awards: Three investigative journalism awards, including ‘Best Journalist of 2012’.
Winners: BIRN Kosovo’s ‘Jeta ne Kosove’ team.
Academic Association for Contemporary European Studies
Award: honours excellence in reporting on the European Union in the English-speaking media.
Winner: Sorana Stanescu, BIRN Hub, an alumna from the 2012 Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme.
For: Cheap, and Far from Free: the Migrants Building Britain.
German Society for International Cooperation, GIZ, and Kosovo Journalists’ Association
Award: Best educational reporting, third prize.
Winner: Bardh Shkreli, BIRN Kosovo.
For: University of Pristina with no Inventions.
2012
South East Europe Media Organisation, SEEMO
Award: Dr Erhard Busek Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe.
Winner: Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo director.
For: Overall work.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association, Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency, UNDP
Award: Best anti-corruption journalism.
Winners: BIRN Kosovo investigative team.
For: Overall work.
UNICEF
Award: Outstanding contribution to journalism in Bosnia.
Winner: Eldin Hadzovic, BIRN Hub, an alumnus of BIRN’s Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence.
For:Abandoned Twice: Bosnia’s Orphans Left in the Lurch.
2010
Kosovo Journalists’ Association and Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency
Award: anti-corruption work in the category of television and online journalism, first prize.
Winner: BIRN Kosovo investigative team.
For: Investigation into misuse of government tenders for roads in Kosovo and into allegations of corruption in the Kosovo’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.
2009
Central European Initiative, CEI, and South East Europe Media Organisation, SEEMO.
Award: Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism.
Winner: Besar Likmeta, BIRN Albania Editor.
For: Overall work.
2007
Kosovo Journalists’ Association
Award: Best story in Kosovo for 2006.
Winner: Krenar Gashi and BIRN Kosovo’s investigative team.
For: Ex-Policemen Run Kosovo Passport Scam.
Romanian government’s Department for Interethnic Relations and National Agency for Roma and the Ethnic Relations project
Awards: Three different diplomas and awards.
Winner: BIRN Romania.
For: fair reporting on ethnic issues.
2006
Romanian Center for Resources for Roma Communities
Award: Honorary mentions in a journalism contest.
Winner: BIRN Romania contributors.
For: Fair reporting on Roma issues.