FIRST SOUTH EAST AND CENTRAL EUROPE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM DAYS TO BE HELD IN MONTENEGRO IN MAY 2010
2010/05/12 | 18:00
media
Vienna, 11 May 2010 – The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO),
a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from
South East and Central Europe and an affiliate of the International
Press Institute (IPI), is pleased to announce the First South East
and Central Europe Investigative Journalism Days, which will be held
in Becici/Budva, Montenegro, from 24 – 26 May 2010.
The First South East and Central Europe Investigative Days is being
organised in cooperation with the Austrian Development Cooperation
(ADC).
The First South East and Central Europe Investigative Days starts
on 24 May 2010 and will be officially opened by Ranko Krivokapic,
President of the Montenegrin Parliament, Branislav Micunovic,
Minister of Culture, Media and Sport, Ambassador Martin Pammer,
Austrian Ambassador to Montenegro, Zeljko Ivanovic, Director of
Vijesti Daily and Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.
The SEEMO Vienna office has registered more than 60 leading
investigative journalists from across South East and Central Europe
for the First South East and Central Europe Investigative Days, as
well as Montenegrin CEOs, editors-in-chief and leading journalists –
all of whom strongly welcomed the event:
"Such a conference can serve as a hub of diverse knowledge for
investigative journalists to exchange information and techniques,
discuss future projects and cooperation and ultimately prove itself
as a wonderful, enriching empowering few days" said Besar Likmeta,
from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (Birn), Albania
and winner of the SEEMO-CEI Award 2009 for Outstanding Merits in
Investigative Journalism.
Bulgarian Investigative Journalist Lidiya Pavlova said: "It is a
great opportunity for me to meet international colleagues and see
how the land lies. The exchange of professional experience at such
events could be crucial for you and you always get the feeling that
you are not alone in your tough profession. You get courage to go on."
Tatiana Etco, a reporter for Ziarul de Garda, Moldova noted:
"Human rights violations, social injustice, poverty, human organ
trafficking, illegal migration, torture and corruption – these are
problems specific not only for Moldova, but for other neighbouring
countries as well. Therefore it will be appropriate to speak about the
difficulties faced by investigative journalists when writing about
these topics. It will be great to have the possibility to share our
experiences, problems and maybe together to identify solutions during
an annual meeting."
Sasa Lekovic, a freelance investigative journalist, and author and
editor of the regional project Potraga, said: "The organisation of
the First Investigative Journalist Days in the South East and Central
Europe region by SEEMO, allows the possibility that within a couple
days all leading investigative journalists can gather at the same
place accordingly. The importance of investigative journalism is
great – investigative journalism is the last chance for citizens to
learn what is actually happening in their countries."
Zeljko Ivanovic, Director of Vijesti Daily, added: "The fact that
SEEMO chose Montenegro as the country in which the first regional
meeting of investigative journalists will be held is a great
support for journalism in Montenegro and investigative journalists
in particular. This meeting should be a stimulus to journalists in
Montenegro to be as involved in investigative journalism as possible
and to comply with professional standards. More than ever, Montenegro
is in great need of more qualitative investigative journalism and
media cooperation and solidarity."
The aim of the First South East and Central Europe Investigative Days
is to help foster better communication, cross-border cooperation, the
exchange of information among leading investigative journalists from
South East and Central Europe and the discussion of difficulties faced
by investigative journalists when reporting on certain topics. The
local partner is Publishing Group Vijesti Daily from Montenegro.
This is the first time SEEMO is organising the South East and Central
Europe Investigative Journalism Days and preparations have already
begun for the Second South East and Central Europe Investigative
Journalism Days which will be held in 2011 in Serbia, and for the
Third South East and Central Europe Investigative Journalism Days –
to be held in 2012 in Moldova.