BIRN Investigation Wins EU Award for Best Investigative Journalism in Bosnia
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Nino Bilajac, Selma Ucanbarlic and EU ambasador EU in BiH Luigi Soreca. Photo: BIRN BiH
Detektor journalists Nino Bilajac and freelance Selma Ucanbarlic won First Prize in the European Union’s Award for Investigative Journalism for their work on the pyramid scheme of eMagnetix that cost many people their investments.
Bilajac and Ucanbarlic shared the prize with Aljazeera Balkans journalist Arduana Pribinja, who was awarded for the story, “Female Patients’ Accusations of Sexual Harassment in Zenica Hospital”.
During the investigation, “Dream Jobs Become Nightmares for Bosnians Lured By Hungarian’s Online Pyramid Scam”, which was carried out in cooperation with Raskrinkavanje, Detektor infiltrated the scheme and discovered that its organiser had registered fictitious companies in European countries, one of which is already under investigation for fraud.
The jury composed of Nidzara Ahmetasevic, Ozren Kebo and Dragana Dardic called Detektor’s investigative piece “a rarely well-researched story with numerous international and domestic sources – a textbook example of good journalism”.
“The effort invested in organising and explaining all the facts is obvious, and that effort deserves a reward. The combination of several journalistic genres with an innovative approach makes this article read like a crime novel,” Dardic said at the award ceremony in Sarajevo.
She added that everything was supported by statements, field trips, interviews with lawyers, expert findings, and that the story went beyond the borders of Bosnia, following the suspicious operations of the Hungarian tycoon’s company and revealing how he had deceived hundreds of people.
“We hope that this award will make the story more visible not only to the public but also to journalists in the region, and that we will read more stories done in this way,” Dardic said.
Bilajac said almost the entire organization had worked on realizing the investigation, with he and Ucanbarlic as the final authors, because the investigation’s international character required a lot of time, resources and patience.
“Pyramid schemes are hard to stop but I hope that, following this, research, investigative and security agencies will have a little more motivation to prevent .. this type of fraud – and that all those who think they can make money by doing nothing will finally realize that it is impossible and that … in no way can you earn thousands and thousands by clicking on the Internet,” he said.
Ucanbarlic said the story explained how one of the most massive pyramid schemes in the region had developed.
“This is not just a story about this pyramidal scam; this story warns of the dangers of cybercrime that threaten our communities and citizens every day, and therefore it is really important that we continuously report on this topic and warn our citizens, so that they do not become victims of cybercrime,” she added.
Second Prize was awarded to Dejan Rakita, from Misli o Prirodi portal and Detektor correspondent, for the story, “Trgovska gora: Why and how it was chosen, what exactly is being built there and what dangers it brings us”.
Third Prize was shared between Zurnal journalists Zinaida Djelilovic and Azra Omerovic for the story “International University of Gorazde: Doctor of Dentistry Obtained Degree Even though Faculty Had No Students Enrolled”, and Azhar Kalamujic, a journalist from the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN), for the research, “Call Beg for Parking”.
EU Ambassador to Bosnia Luigi Soreca said during the award ceremony that journalism without fear and intimidation was the cornerstone of democracy.
“Today I want to honour the courage and dedication of investigative journalists across BiH, especially since journalists are too often the targets of threats,” he said, adding that the EU would continue to insist on the institutional protection of journalists.
Bilajac joined Detektor in 2022 and has received numerous awards, including the Eco Journalist Award for 2022, the EU Award for Investigative Journalism in 2021, as well as the Award for Outstanding Merit in Investigative Journalism in 2018 given by the South East European Media Organization (SEEMO) and the Central European Initiative (CEI).
He was shortlisted in 2017 for the Young Journalist Award given by the Thompson Foundation, and the European Press Prize in 2021.
The EU Award for Investigative Journalism celebrates the best investigative stories produced in the previous calendar year.
It is awarded in all six Western Balkan countries – Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Turkey.
