CEI SEEMO AWARD 2025
CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2025
The Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) are proud to announce the 2025 Call for Applications.
We have been presenting this traditional annual award since 2008.
The Award is meant to promote high-quality investigative journalism and acknowledge the efforts of media professionals to explore major topics, often working under difficult conditions.
This year’s Award seeks to highlight the role of investigative journalism in raising public awareness of critical issues such as human rights violations, social discrimination, corruption, gender inequality, environmental threats.
Deadline: 15 July 2025 (23:59 CEST)
Application Package available: https://www.cei.int/contact/application_cei_seemo
More details:
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2025: CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism
The CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism is meant to promote high-quality investigative journalism and acknowledge the efforts of investigative journalists often working under difficult conditions in the context of threats to media freedom and personal safety.
This year’s Award seeks to highlight the role of investigative journalism in raising public awareness of critical issues such as human rights violations, social discrimination, corruption, gender inequality, environmental threats.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
The Call is open to nationals of the following CEI Member States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine. (Belarus suspended)
The Award is divided into two categories:
1. PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS 4,000 EUR
2. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS (born on/after 1995) 1,000 EUR
Category 1: candidates who have been actively involved in investigative reporting over the last three years and are still active in journalism. Two samples of journalistic work will be relevant for the evaluation from the jury.
Category 2: candidates who have been actively involved in investigative reporting, even in the context of training activities organised by schools/universities/NGOs and, as a result, should have published at least one investigative story meeting all professional standards. One sample of journalistic work will be relevant for the evaluation from the jury.
Print, Radio, TV, news agencies and Internet media are admitted.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates shall fill in the Online Application Form available here:
https://www.cei.int/contact/application_cei_seemo
The following documents in PDF format shall be uploaded:
1. Curriculum vitae (in English).
2. Recommendation letter (in English) written and signed by trustworthy individuals, journalism and media organisations, media companies, civil society organisations, journalism schools or universities, trade unions or other social organisations from the target countries.
3. Up to three samples of journalistic work in a single PDF document (minimum two samples in Category 1, one sample in Category 2). For online work samples, insert hyperlinks in a PDF document, or print out online articles in a PDF file. Hyperlinks need to be accessible by 15 December 2025. In the case of audio/video material, please upload the files making use of file-sharing services (e.g. WeTransfer or Dropbox) including a script or scenario. Material prepared in local languages should be accompanied by a short summary in English.
Applications that do not include all requested documentation will not be considered.
DEADLINE
Applications shall be submitted by 15 July 2025 (23:59 CEST).
SELECTION
Applications will be examined by an international jury composed of distinguished journalists and media experts from the region, which may also include winners of previous editions of the Award. The awarding ceremony will take place during the South East Europe Media Forum (SEEMF) to be held in Chisinau, Moldova, on 17-18 November 2025.
The jury will take into account the relevance of the matters covered by the reports, which should have a focus on the target countries, as well as the quality of reporting in terms of documentation, data, writing and production. The personal risks taken while performing the duties as well as the impact on society of the messages conveyed will also be evaluated.
FOR INFORMATION