Ten Moldovan journalists have been designated as the best in this field in 2006. The awarding ceremony “Ten Journalists of the Year” (edition XI) was held in the premises of the National Theatre ‘Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau on Wednesday December 20. The journalists of 2006 are Alina Turcanu (“Timpul de dimineata”); Andrei Cibotaru (Basa-press); Aneta Grosu (“Ziarul de Garda”); Constantin Cheianu (“Jurnal de Chisinau”, Pro FM); Dmitri Calac (“Ekonomiceskoe obozrenie”/”Logos Press”); Olga Sveichina (“Kisiniovski obozrevatel”); Petru Terguta (TV 7); Raisa Lozinschi (“Jurnal de Chisinau”); Tudor Iascenco (“Cuvantul”, Rezina); Violeta Ciocanu (Radio Moldova). Special prizes have been awarded, as well. The Excellency Prize for long experience in journalism went to writer Vasile Vasilache; Valeria Vitu (Radio Free Europe) was distinguished with the “Hope of the Year” prize. The Debut of the Year went to “Business Class” and “Punkt” magazines. “Deca-press” news agency, Balti, has enjoyed the best performance of the year. “Phoenix” prize (for the press institution that survived under extreme conditions) went to the TV 7 channel; while the prize for resistance and promotion of diversity and opinion pluralism – to “Antena C” radio station and “Euro TV Chisinau”. The process of selecting the journalists of the year was performed in three stages. In the first stage, media institutions in Moldova proposed three candidates for these prizes: a journalist from the own editorial staff and two journalists from other editorial staffs. In addition, a group of nine experts was made up. The final decision (the third stage) was taken by the Council of experts within the Independent Journalism Centre, on the basis of the number of votes garnered by journalists in the first stage. While nominating the candidates, into account were taken the following criteria: professionalism, observance of deontological norms, impact on public opinion, level of risk, objectivity, and devotion to profession. The event has been organized with the financial support of the “Balkan Trust for Democracy” and OSCE Mission to Moldova.