Selected Winners of the Regional Journalism Award "Srđan Aleksić"

The awards will be ceremoniously presented on December 6th of this year in Zagreb.

The Regional Journalism Award "Srđan Aleksić" is awarded for professional and socially responsible media reporting that results in tangible benefits for people and communities (contributing to reconciliation, protection of human rights, inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups, gender equality, the rule of law, a culture of dialogue, combating hate speech and fake news), as well as for demonstrated journalistic courage.

The jury unanimously decided that the award for “Courage” goes to Barbara Matejčić, a freelance journalist from Croatia.

“The investigative work of Barbara Matejčić demonstrates the highest standards of journalistic craft: it reconstructs a wartime event that has remained distorted for decades in an accurate, documented, and non-sensational manner. Her methodology, bold and thorough investigative work, and depth of verification clearly separate facts from assumptions, bringing us back to the fundamental obligation of journalism — that the truth be established, not left to myth or manipulation,” states the jury's rationale.

In the category of “Contribution to the Community,” the jury awarded Mila Vukčević, a journalist and editor of TVCG, for her documentary film “Brother,” which confronts the Montenegrin public with the dark events from the war in the 1990s.

The jury members stated that Mila Vukčević's film best reflects the spirit of the “Srđan Aleksić” award, as it is a poignant testimony of humanity, charity, courage, and sacrifice. The special value of the film “Brother” lies in the fact that it comes at a time when Montenegro is facing strong attempts to contest historical facts and false interpretations of events from both recent and distant past.

In the category of “For the Media,” N1 Serbia television stood out, having shown over the past year that independent journalism is not a luxury, but a necessary pillar of democracy in a pressurized society. In a society where media freedom and public discourse are constantly threatened, N1 not only documents reality but also creates space for critical reflection, oversight of power, and preservation of the public interest. Their professionalism and ethical consistency demonstrate that the media can be the last line of defense for democratic principles - and for this reason, they deserve recognition, the jury members noted.

The jury decided to also award a Special Plaque this year to the Novosadska Group of Journalists for their outstanding, dedicated, and supportive work during the student protests in Serbia.

The rationale states that the “Novosadska Editorial Team,” composed of journalists from various media outlets, is the most vivid example that the fight for the public interest comes above all – including competitiveness, exclusivity, and editorial differences of the parent editorial offices. In the past 12 months, they have faced 89 physical attacks, half of which were perpetrated by the police. They work under helmets and in protective vests, but despite the pressures and violence, they remain committed to the code and protect the public interest.

Thanks to them, images from Novi Sad have traveled and continue to travel the world, documenting the ruthlessness, crime, and corruption of the regime.

In addition to the award winners, this year, journalists Aida Hadžimusić, Amarildo Gutić, Melita Vrsaljko, Saša Paparela, and Filip Đorđević, as well as the portals CIN, Valter, Tris, Vida, and Storyteller, were also highly ranked.

This year's competition for the Regional Award “Srđan Aleksić” received 40 nominations for 33 journalists and seven media outlets, which were evaluated by a jury composed of: Slavica Lukić and Boris Pavelić (Croatia), Ana Hegediš Lalić (Serbia), Vladan Mićunović (Montenegro), and Borislav Kontić (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The journalism award is announced by: the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Banja Luka, the Peacebuilding Network, the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina, the Media Institute from Montenegro, and the Association for the Promotion of Media Culture, Arts, and Tolerance “Lupiga – the World Through Ordinary Eyes” from Croatia.

The ceremonial award presentation will be organized on December 6th in Zagreb, as part of the event “Days of Srđan Aleksić.”