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"The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Veliaj"/ Ola Xama receives the second prize for the mayor's essay

2024-10-03 23:06:00, Aktualitet CNA

"The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Veliaj"/ Ola Xama

Journalist Ola Xama won the second prize as the best article in 2023 for the article "The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Erion Veliaj, says SPAK".

She received this award at the EU Investigative Journalism Award ceremony.

Xama has reacted on social networks to the evaluation with the second place and says that the work for this article taught him integrity and endurance.

Full statement:

I feel honored with the award given at the EU Investigative Journalism Award ceremony, where the article "Tirana's incinerator project was proposed by Erjon Veliaj, says SPAK" was awarded second place as the best article in 2023.

"The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Veliaj"/ Ola Xama

This is not the longest piece of writing compared to others, and I wouldn't consider it the most difficult in terms of the technical part: data, calculations, interviews and research work. But the work for this article taught me another very important side of our profession: integrity and endurance when they aim at any cost to intimidate you with the aim of reducing the weight and importance of the journalist's work.

I had a difficult professional and personal period, because in the big slander campaign that started after the publication of the article, it was not only me but also my family members. Sometimes I even thought that it is not worth working and fighting in this country! Thoughts that have disappeared immediately as soon as colleagues, friends and associates have told me that they are with me, they know me, and they do not believe a word of the scattered fabrications.

Therefore, this award for me is the medal of integrity that my colleagues gave me!

The award went to Sandra Bogdani, Birn's editor who not only worked with me on this article, but stood by me whenever I needed to be heard.

I would have liked to be at the ceremony myself, but physically it was not possible as I am in the US with 16 fellow journalists from around the world, who gave me the applause I missed from the hall.

In the end, I want to thank all the winning journalists and those who participated in this competition, who with their work have changed the lives of all of us for the better!

This award is a privilege!/ CNA