Internews partner, the Oslobodjenje Group was awarded the Transatlantic Leadership Network’s inaugural Freedom of the Media Award – one of only six world-class media outlets to receive this recognition, alongside the Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Radio Free Europe, and others.

The CEO of the Oslobodjenje Group, Mujo Selimovic was recognized at the National Press Club in Washington, DC “for his ongoing commitment to expose corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and political control of the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina that continues to damage society.”

The award, which was announced on December 7, comes after four years of intensive work by Internews under USAID’s Balkan Media Assistance Program (BMAP), a regional program aimed at improving media sustainability in the Western Balkan Region. With intensive management consulting, technical assistance, and production support from BMAP, the Oslobodjenje Group has achieved a complete revitalization, nearly tripling its audience and positioning itself as one of the leading voices for reform and progress in BiH.

Speaking with senior managers from USAID, the US State Department, and Internews while in the US, Mr. Selimovic noted the role of BMAP assistance in helping the Oslobodjenje Group overcome the challenges of working in a small market and praised the project’s focus on long-term financial sustainability.