USAID Professional Media Program Renders a Winner
On October 15, 2005, Na Chisto (Clean Slate) won the Grand Award for Television at The Bulgarian Europe Festival in Russe. Na Chisto is the first regular syndicated television anticorruption investigative program produced by the Broadcast Training Center (BTC), with the financial support of USAID.
USAID has supported the development of independent media in Bulgaria since 1995. Through its Professional Media Program USAID has promoted the reform of media legislation, contributed to increase the professionalism of media outlets, and has been instrumental in the establishment of the professional association of independent media that will sustain further development of the sector.
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| Grand Award for Television at The Bulgarian Europe Festival in Russe |
BTC Director Petko Georgiev says, “I am happy to share with you that Na Chisto won the Grand Award for Television at The Bulgarian Europe festival in Russe.”
At the award ceremony, the Jury Chairman announced that the award was given for “the immediate reaction of the production team to the exceptionally important problem in the brutal attempt to limit freedom of speech and for outstanding contribution to the development of investigative journalism.”
The winning documentary was on the illegal broadcast that jams the radio transmissions of Radio Raya in the city of Dulovo. The competition included over 100 productions from the major television stations in Bulgaria. The focus of the film festival is Bulgarian audio-visual production on EU integration. Na Chisto participated in the anti-corruption category, but was awarded the Grand Award of the festival.
“Our whole team is really excited and inspired by the recognition and is extremely thankful to USAID for the firm support for our work over the years,” said Mr. Georgiev.
One day after the program aired the jamming stopped, the antenna was dismantled and handed over to the police. An investigation is underway.
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