Newsroom
Kosovo media competes for best transparency and anti-corruption award
PRISTINA 4 December 2006
PRISTINA, 4 December 2006 - Six journalism awards will be given out for the best reporting which has contributed to promoting transparent governmental practices in Kosovo.
The competition for the Best Transparency and Anti-Corruption Report Awards is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency and the OSCE Mission.
"Journalists have an important role in society," said Frode Mauring, the UNDP Kosovo Resident Representative. "They contribute in creating public opinion and therefore have responsibility in ensuring accountability."
The awards cover the entire media spectrum and will be given in the following six categories: Kosovo-wide TV and radio reports, local TV and radio reports, and newspaper articles and agency news. All stories published between the two International Anti-Corruption Days, 9 December 2005 and 9 December 2006 will be eligible for the competition.
"It is of great help for the Agency to have vigilant media outlets that keep local institutions under scrutiny. The awards are our way of showing our support for their work," said Hasan Preteni, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
The ACA became operational in June 2006 with the appointment of a director. The body allows for the public to submit allegations of corrupt practices and it reviews governmental practices. The ACA reports to the Assembly of Kosovo, as the highest elected body of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government and provides advice to the Prosecutor's Office.
"The Kosovo administration is still new. Therefore, a key priority of the Government must be to ensure transparent practices and to prevent corruption from becoming embedded within society," said Ambassador Werner Wnendt, Head of the OSCE Mission.
"The international community supported the establishment of the ACA and it will continue to back its activities, as well as to raise public awareness on the ill effects of corruption," Ambassador Wnendt added.
All entries for the competition should be delivered to the UNDP office in Pristina, or the nearest OSCE office by 12:00 on Saturday 9 December 2006. The winners are to be announced in Pristina on 11 December 2006 at the launch of a joint ACA, OSCE and UNDP anti-corruption public information campaign.
The competition for the Best Transparency and Anti-Corruption Report Awards is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency and the OSCE Mission.
"Journalists have an important role in society," said Frode Mauring, the UNDP Kosovo Resident Representative. "They contribute in creating public opinion and therefore have responsibility in ensuring accountability."
The awards cover the entire media spectrum and will be given in the following six categories: Kosovo-wide TV and radio reports, local TV and radio reports, and newspaper articles and agency news. All stories published between the two International Anti-Corruption Days, 9 December 2005 and 9 December 2006 will be eligible for the competition.
"It is of great help for the Agency to have vigilant media outlets that keep local institutions under scrutiny. The awards are our way of showing our support for their work," said Hasan Preteni, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
The ACA became operational in June 2006 with the appointment of a director. The body allows for the public to submit allegations of corrupt practices and it reviews governmental practices. The ACA reports to the Assembly of Kosovo, as the highest elected body of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government and provides advice to the Prosecutor's Office.
"The Kosovo administration is still new. Therefore, a key priority of the Government must be to ensure transparent practices and to prevent corruption from becoming embedded within society," said Ambassador Werner Wnendt, Head of the OSCE Mission.
"The international community supported the establishment of the ACA and it will continue to back its activities, as well as to raise public awareness on the ill effects of corruption," Ambassador Wnendt added.
All entries for the competition should be delivered to the UNDP office in Pristina, or the nearest OSCE office by 12:00 on Saturday 9 December 2006. The winners are to be announced in Pristina on 11 December 2006 at the launch of a joint ACA, OSCE and UNDP anti-corruption public information campaign.