Impressum:
Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia – CINS
www.cins.rs
Published by:
Center for Investigative Journalism – Foundation
Bulevar despota Stefana 22, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
registration number: IN000492
contact: office@cins.rs
Editor-in-Chief:
Vladimir Kostić
Responsible social media editor:
Zoran Miodrag
Publisher and responsible editor of the About us section and CINS promo:
Milica Šarić
Mission:
Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia – CINS (Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Srbije – CINS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to investigative journalism according to the internationally recognized standards, including the use of new tools and techniques.
Our goal is to continuously offer to the Serbian citizens important facts about Serbian society that were hidden or unknown prior to our investigations. CINS hopes to help citizens reach informed decisions in this manner.
Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia was founded by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia with the aim to show that independent journalism in line with the highest professional standards is possible in Serbia.
CINS is funded by donations in order to avoid the influence of funding sources originating from business and politics that have been controlling the content of some commercial media in Serbia rendering their social role meaningless.
CINS supports the inclusion of vulnerable groups and the equality of all Serbian citizens, regardless of their gender, race, national, religious or political affiliation and other diversities. CINS also supports the right of citizens to transparency of the work of public bodies and the right to be informed about all the facts important for our society.
CINS recognizes the authority of the Press Council. If you believe that CINS has violated the Serbian Journalists’ Code of Ethics with its reporting, you can complain to this self-regulatory body.
Goals:
Promotion of independent, responsible and professional journalism and the respect of high and internationally recognized standards in journalism;
Production and publishing of investigative media content on CINS web site and in other local and international media;
Education of journalists and editors in Serbia in hands-on skills of investigative journalism;
Providing opportunity for journalists, particularly young ones, and the citizens in general to apply the skills and techniques of investigative journalism in order to expose important facts to the Serbian public;
Cooperation with similar organizations, other media and media organizations in Serbia, the region of South East Europe and internationally, including cross-border investigative projects;
Cooperation with non-governmental organizations in Serbia and abroad.
Long term goals:
To contribute to the presence and advancement of independent journalism in Serbia;
To identify problems in Serbia and offer solutions;
To educate citizens of Serbia about the importance of professional and responsible journalism;
To contribute to the public discourse and civil society by publishing fair and honest investigations on topics of interest for the citizens of Serbia, regardless of ownership or political interests.
Awards:
2024
- The 2024 Ethical Journalism Award, presented by Article19
- The third “Dejan Anastasijević” award for investigative journalism, presented by Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
- Audience award as part of “Dejan Anastasijević” award for investigative journalism, presented by IJAS
- Special recognition award under “Dejan Anastasijević” award for investigative journalism, presented by IJAS
- The award for the best film in the category “Environment” for the documentary “When Protests Die Down” within the second international short environmental film festival Rzav Film Fest
- Nominated for the Newcommer of the year, presented by Free Press Unlimited
- First prize of the European Union (EU) for investigative journalism presented by the Delegation of the EU in Serbia for the story “CINS Inside SNS’s Call Center: Hostess Agency, Vote Buying, and Millions in Cash”
- Special mention within the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2024, presented by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
2023
- Second Prize of the European Union (EU) for investigative journalism presented by the Delegation of the EU in Serbia for the Database and series of texts on the financing of political organizations in Serbia
- Third Prize of the European Union (EU) for investigative journalism presented by the Delegation of the EU in Serbia for the series of articles “The Roads of Serbian Weapons” written in cooperation with BIRN
- Annual Tolerance Award presented by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, on the occasion of Tolerance Day – first place in the online category
- Shortlisted for Young Journalist Award, presented by Thomson Foundation
- Two anti-corruption charters (group and individual), presented by the “Kareja” association on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, for the story “CINS Inside SNS’s Call Center: Hostess Agency, Vote Buying, and Millions in Cash”
- The Most Prominent Young Journalist Award in 2023, presented by Zoomer
2022
- Marina Kovačev, for the best young journalist in Serbia in 2022.
- Shortlisted for the Dejan Anastasijević award for excellence in investigative journalism
- Shortlisted for the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize
2021
- Shortlisted for Stanislav Staša Marinković Award
- First prize of the EU for investigative journalism in Serbia, for a series of articles on air pollution in Serbia
- Shortlisted and special praised for the prize of the EU for investigative journalism in Serbia, for the database titled How Much Does an MP Cost?
2020
- Marina Kovačev, for the best young journalist in Serbia in 2020
2019
- Prize of the EU for investigative journalism in Serbia, for the series of articles about small hydropower plants
- Shortlisted for the Prize of the EU for investigative journalism in Serbia, for the database of proceedings against public officials
- Finalist of the Data journalism award in the open data category, granted by the Global Editor Network (GEN), for the database of proceedings against public officials
- Special mention for the investigative journalism in 2019 granted by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia and the USA Embassy
- Finalist of the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards for courageous, high-impact and determined journalism that exposes censorship and threats to free expression
2018
- Marina Kovačev, for the best young journalist in Serbia in 2018
2017
- European Press Prize in the investigative journalism category for a series of articles covering corruption and organized crime
- Anthony Lewis Prize for exceptional rule of law journalism established by World Justice Project
- Balkan Fact-Checking Award for Serbia for series of articles about the budget money given to Serbian PINK TV
- Prize of the EU for investigative journalism in Serbia in the category of best young journalist for series of articles covering construction of the new block of Kostolac B thermal power plant
- Contribution of the Year to Europe granted by the European Movement in Serbia for building a modern and democratic society
- Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the online category for the investigation of the National Bank Governor’s Doctorate
- Award “Dušan Bogavac” for ethics and courage
- Media award for tolerance (third in rank in the category print/on-line media) granted by The Commissioner for Protection of Equality and the OSCE mission in Serbia
- Journalists’ awards for reporting about the topics covering environment protection and sustainable development (second award in the investigative reporting category)
- Finalist of the Global Shining Light Award granted by Global Investigative Journalism Network
2016
• Media Tolerance Award (second place in the online media category) granted by The Commissioner for Protection of Equality and the OSCE mission in Serbia
2015
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the online category for the series of articles covering floods in Serbia in 2014
2014
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the category:
– online media for the regional investigation about budget paid meaningless international awards
– electronic media for TV reportage covering fraud in the construction of apartments in Belgrade quart Filmski grad
2013
• Regional Award Jug Grizelj for the excellence in investigative journalism to Stevan Dojcinovic, then Editor-in-Chief of CINS
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the online media category for a series of articles covering implementation of BusPlus system in Belgrade
2012
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the online media category for a series of articles in Project Ćopić
2011
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Award for excellence in investigative journalism in the young journalists for a series of articles in Mišković
• Daniel Pearl Award granted by The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – then Editor-in-Chief of CINS Stevan Dojcinovic was one of seven members of the international investigative team awarded for the cross-border investigation covering off-shore
International organizations
Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia is a member of the network of journalists and centers Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). In cooperation with other members of OCCRP, CINS participates in cross-border investigative projects. This form of collaboration is the only one that can investigate organized crime as it easily crosses state borders where national police forces stop.
OCCRP strongly supported the establishment and development of CINS and continues to do so.
CINS is a member of the international organization of investigative journalists Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN). GIJN is an organization of non-profit investigative journalism groups. Its activities are production of investigative stories, trainings, securing funds for the work of investigative journalists and helping found similar non-profit groups. It was established in 2003. It organizes biannual international conferences of investigative journalism where CINS journalists and editors are active participants.
In 2022, CINS joined the European Data Journalism Network (EDJNet), as the first media outside the EU.
What do we investigate?
CINS investigates organized crime, politics, business, frauds, energy, environment, corruption, judiciary, sports and other important parts of society.
Although CINS has capacity for investigating a relatively small number of issues, it focuses on those that have the greatest impact on the lives of as many Serbian citizens as possible.
CINS also uses every opportunity to investigate issues that are not of national importance, but local media do not investigate them and national media are disinterested in such issues.
The influence on the society is a key criterion for CINS when choosing topics to investigate.
History
The Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia was founded in 2007, as a section of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia.
In 2012 CINS became an independent legal entity and is registered as a foundation with the Serbian Business Registers Agency.
Since its establishment, CINS conducted numerous investigative and educational projects and published several tens of investigative stories.
