Best Moldovan journalists honoured at awards ceremony

10 Moldovan journalists who distinguished themselves in the field in 2007 were honoured Wednesday at the “Best 10 Journalists of the Year”, XIII edition, held in Mihai Eminescu National Theatre. The best journalists of 2007 are Pavel Paduraru (Timpul de Dimineata), Anatol Caslaru (Eco), Oxana Nesterova (Ekonomiceskoe Obozrenie), Ana Harlamenco (Stolitsa), Oxana Iutes (Pro TV Chisinau), Marina Panzaru (TV7), Liliana Barbarosie (Radio Free Europe), Vitalie Enache (Vocea Basarabiei), Eugen Urusciuc (Deca Press) and Victor Cobasneanu (Observatorul de Nord). Special prizes have been awarded as well. The Prize of Excellence for long distinguished journalistic career went to writer Aureliu Busuioc; the Most Promising Journalist of the Year prizes were awarded to Irina Lipcanu (Eco, Business Class) and Anastasia Nani (Ziarul de Garda). The Debut of the Year awards went to the paper “Expresul de Ungheni” and to TV Moldova International. The papers “Timpul de Dimineata” and “Capital Market” were considered to have performed the best this year. The Phoenix Award went to Alexandr Barbov of TV7 channel, while Rodica Cioranica of VIP Magazin was awarded the Best Manager on the Year prize. The selection of the best journalists of the year had three stages. At first, the media institutions in Moldova nominated three candidates for the top award, including a journalist working at the respective institution. In addition, a group of nine experts in the field was created. At the final stage, the Council of experts of the Independent Journalism Centre named the winners, following a tally of the votes garnered by the nominees at the first stage. The following criteria were taken into account when nominating candidates: professionalism, observance of journalism ethics and standards, impact on the public opinion, the level of risk assumed, objectivity and commitment to the profession. The awards ceremony was held as part of the Press Club under the aegis of the Independent Journalism Centre and the Committee for Freedom of Press.