UNDP Moldova launches a contest for the best journalistic investigations on corruption issues, opened for all journalists from national and local written press, online media, radio and TV. The contest is conducted in the framework of the project ”Strengthening the corruption prevention and analysis functions of the National Anticorruption Centre”, financed by the Ministry of External Affairs of Norway in partnership with the National Anticorruption Centre (NAC).

The contest of journalistic investigations shall be opened, starting from 18 April 2016 until 30 October 2016. The journalistic investigations made and published/broadcasted during 2016 (January – October) shall be admitted to the contest.

The journalistic investigations registered for the contest shall refer to corruption facts, traffic of influence, conflicts of interest, mismanagement of public funds and public property, integrity of the dignitaries, undeclared property and businesses, organized crime and money laundry schemes, etc.

A jury formed of professionals from mass-media and experts from the anticorruption field shall examine the admitted works and shall designate the winning investigations.

During the evaluation of investigations, the complexity of the investigation, quality of the documentation, originality of the subject, data presentation and visualization instruments, impact, changes produced, as well as compliance with the professional and ethical standards in the documentation, information-acquiring process etc. shall be considered.

Three prizes shall be granted for each of the three categories:

1)    PRINT MEDIA (for investigations published in news-papers and on web pages);

2)    RADIO (for investigations carried out in audio version);

3)    TV (for investigations carried out in video version).

Prize I – a video camera;

Prize II – a laptop;

Prize III – a professional photo camera.

The publications/materials can be submitted in electronic form (the link to the publication), printed, audio and video form to the following e-mail address: olga.crivoliubic@undp.org under the heading Contest for the best journalistic investigations on corruption issues. These can be also sent by post or brought in a sealed envelope to the following address: Str. 31 august 131, UNDP-Moldova with the inscription Contest for the best journalistic investigations on corruption issues.  Contact person Olga Crivoliubic, Project Manager, UNDP Moldova.

The award ceremony will take place during the Annual Anticorruption Conference, held traditionally on 9 December 2016, on the International Anticorruption Day.

The cooperation of the public authorities with the civil society and mass-media, including by encouraging investigative journalism constitutes one of the objectives of the National Anticorruption Strategy for 2011-2015, extended also for 2016. The investigative journalists play a vital role of in the disclosure of corruption facts, of the fraud and organized crime. The investigative journalism contributes to the information of citizens and formation of public opinion on corruption perception as a negative and shameful social phenomenon, and makes the public property management and governance process more transparent as well as contributes to the accountability of civil servants and dignitaries. Often this results in the notification of the law enforcement bodies and initiation of investigations.