JOURNALISTS OF THE YEAR 2015 ANNOUNCED AT THE ANNUAL PRESS CLUB GALA

The Chisinau Press Club – Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and the Press Freedom Committee– announced the top journalists of the year 2015, within the Annual Press Club Gala, 21th edition, organized on December 17.

Natalia MORARI – award in the Interview category, Interpol TV program, TV 7
Jagland THORBJORN – award for the covering the politic topic, the Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe
Inna KIVIRJIK – for covering the economic topic, Newsmaker.md news portal
RISE Project Moldova – for the best journalistic investigation ”PlahotniukLeaks”
Vitalie HADEI – for covering the sports topic, Ziarul National

”Pur si Simplu” TV Project – for covering cultural topic
Natalia PETRUSEVICI – for covering social topic, ”SP” newspaper, Balti
Lilia CURCHI – for covering ecology topic, ”Natura” magazine
Andrei MARDARI – award in the PhotoJournalism category.

The following special prizes were also awarded at the Gala:

Hope of the year 2015 - Livia GONCEAR-PINZARI, Radio Moldova
Award for the best social campaign ”Daruiesti si castigi!” - PRO TV
Award for promoting diversity in the media - Ecaterina TERZI, reporter in Gagauzia region, Teleradio-Moldova Public Company

The top journalists of the year were established based on a contest of journalistic materials, realized and published between January-October 2015, assigned within different awards categories. The candidates were evaluated by the members of juries and the IJC Senate. The list of juries’ members is available here. Also, the members of IJC Senate and IJC Assembly of Founders came up with additional nominations to complete the list of proposed candidates for the award categories with less number of candidates.

The main purpose of this action, which is part of the objective to contribute by all means to strengthen professional journalism, is to support and encourage the efforts of journalists to commit high quality journalism, adhering to international professional standards.

The Annual Press Club Gala was held with the financial support of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.