OSCE announces winners of environmental reporting competition in Sarajevo

SARAJEVO, 6 June 2013 – As part of the observance of World Environment Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina honoured the five winners of a competition for journalists reporting on environmental issues in Sarajevo yesterday.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fletcher M. Burton, presented the awards to Elvir Padalović, desk editor of the web portal Buka; Sanela Habeš, journalist at BH Radio 1; Bisera Džidić, journalist at the Federal News Agency (FENA); and Sanel Kajan, news producer with Al Jazeera Balkans.

Hajdar Arifagić was awarded for lifetime achievement in environmental journalism.

“As environmental journalists, you work to inform people about important issues directly affecting their everyday lives, and play an extremely important role in engaging people in environmental protection,” Burton said. “Your task is challenging, as it should include not only investigation, but proposing solutions as well. You can act as educators, and encourage a dialogue among citizens to find solutions to environmental challenges.”

A total of 27 media reports were entered into the competition. A jury of professionals in the fields of media and environment chose winners in the categories of online and print; and radio and TV reporting. The winners will attend the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague in September 2013.