CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FORUM INAUGURATED A SPECIAL PRIZE AT ‘THE BULGARIAN EUROPE’ FESTIVAL

The Citizen Participation Forum awarded a special prize at the media festival ‘the Bulgarian Europe’ to Vasil Ivanov from Nova Tv for his investigations “Misappropriations by the mayor of Nedelino” and “Misappropriations by the mayor of Vidin”.

The festival is organised by “European Spaces 21” Association, a member of Citizen Participation forum. It was held on 27-29 November, presenting three thematic agendas:  competition, discussions, films.

For the first time this year Citizen Participation Forum inaugurated a special prize for an active citizen position, withstanding the idea for civic activism and the human courage to change the surrounding environment.

The Jury, chaired by the media expert Associate Professor Ivo Draganov, nominated Vasil Ivanov as a recipient of the prize for his investigative coverage of misappropriations by the mayors of Nedelino and Vidin. These reportages reveal how the two mayors embezzle funds from the municipality budgets. Iva Taralezhkova, Chair of the Citizen Participation Forum Board emphasised the role the media play, especially in smaller towns, where civic activism is often combined with fear of the consequences of people opposing the authorities.

The ‘Bulgarian Europe’ 2014 Festival featured 115 programmes of 11 Bulgarian TV broadcasts, 18 of which have been nominated.

During the discussions, Citizen Participation Forum took part in the panel “Civil society and the media”, debating the opportunities for cooperation between civil society organisations and the journalists.