Stories on water pollution, banned pesticides and the mass shooting in Cetinje were some of the subjects for which six journalists have received awards for outstanding investigative journalism in Montenegro.
Tatjana Asanin, Nikola Milosavic Aleksic, Svetlana Djokic, Milica Babic, Djurdja Radulovic and Andrea Perisic were announced as winners at the 2024 annual EU Investigative Journalism Awards at Europe House in Podgorica on September 30th.
First prize was shared between Tatjana Asanin and Nikola Milosavic Aleksic from TV Vijesti for their series about sewage, “In Murky Waters, and Svetlana & Milica from TV E for their series, “Massacre of Responsibilities’, which revealed new details about the Cetinje massacre in which 10 people were killed.
The second prize went to Djurdja Radulovic from Balkan Insight for the investigation titled “Nobody Checks: Bying Banned Pesticides in Montenegro,” a compelling piece that reveals the dangerous consequences of unregulated sales of banned pesticides in Montenegro, posing serious risks to health and the environment. The story has been developed as part of the BIRN’s Summer School.
The third prize was awarded to Andrea Perisic from the Center for Investigative Journalism for her powerful exposé, “Smuggling of Montenegro archaeological treasures: They blow up, sell and destroy heritage without punishment”.
The jury consisted of Branko Cecen, an experienced journalist who led the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS) to international acclaim; Olivera Nikolic who now heads the Montenegro Media Institute; and Mileva Malesic a founder of the Women’s Forum Prijepolje and the TV Forum. More about the jury members can be found here.
European Union ambassador to Montenegro, Mr. Johann Sattler, handed out the awards certificates.