Skopje, 30 April 2026 (MIA) – Awards for the best journalistic stories on the topic “Facts and Disinformation on Climate Change,” published between May 2025 and April 2026, were presented Thursday by the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia.

The first prize was awarded to Mihail Miloshevski for the story “How Macedonia Will Phase Out Coal Without Losing Energy Stability,” published on 360 Degrees web portal.

The second prize was awarded to Aleksandar Metodiev and Suzana Miceva of Nota.mk for the documentary film “The Illegal Paths of Waste.”

The third prize went to Valentina Vurmo for the story “Is Foreign Waste Poisoning Us, Too, Alongside Our Own?”

The award winners thanked the organisers for the recognition, noting that the awards are significant to them and that both the stories and the documentary are the result of several months of dedicated work. Several certificates of recognition were also handed out after the awards ceremony.

President of the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia, Leunora Kaliqi, said the awards are presented ahead of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, a day that serves as a reminder that free, responsible and professional journalism is not a privilege, but a cornerstone of every democratic society.

“A total of 29 stories by 16 authors were submitted to this year’s competition. All submissions reflect journalists’’ strong interest, sensitivity and professional dedication to topics significant to public interest. The media must provide broader and deeper coverage of issues that directly affect people’s quality of life,” Kaliqi said.

Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia, Steffen Hudolin, said that the European Green Deal, launched in 2019, set out a vision not only to address environmental challenges, but also to reshape the economy towards sustainability and resilience, stressing that this remains a long-term commitment to a greener and fairer future. He pointed out that we are facing growing challenges posed by climate-related disinformation, which undermines public understanding and delays action.

“We must rely on the media, yet in some cases they are deliberately influenced by various interests. False information spreads rapidly through digital platforms, increasing confusion, while the consequences are very real. Disinformation is also dangerous for reforms, deepening social divisions and undermining the willingness to address global crises. In such an environment, quality journalism is irreplaceable. Journalists play a crucial role not only in reporting facts, but also in providing context, challenging false narratives and ensuring that citizens have access to accurate information. Today, we recognise journalists who have shown integrity and courage in addressing one of the most important issues of our time,” Hudolin added.

UNESCO's Regional Project Coordinator, Joshua Massarenti, noted that the global theme for 2026 serves as a reminder that media freedom is essential for building a future based on human rights, peace and security.

“This message is particularly important today, because without access to reliable information, public cannot respond to crises or make decisions. Without public debate, journalism becomes weaker and citizens are left vulnerable. Journalism must be valued especially in times like these. This means recognizing the courage, professionalism and responsibility of journalists who continue to work in the public interest, often under very difficult conditions,” Massarenti said.

Executive Director of the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia, Biljana Georgievska, said she was disappointed by the fact that Macedonia remains an environmental black spot in the region.

“In an interview with Steffen Hudolin, he mentioned that this region generates significantly more pollution than EU countries. This is nothing to be proud of, and we will continue encouraging journalists to work courageously and with dedication, to stay focused on this issue, and to ensure that more stories like these become part of regular media coverage,” Georgievska added.

Photo: MIA