SCOOP Macedonia is nongovernmental and non-profitable organization aimed to promote, support and stimulate investigative journalism. The purpose of the organization is to support the journalists in their everyday work, with financial or professional help, needed for development of investigative journalism in the country, region, but also globally..
The existence of SCOOP Macedonia was enabled by the Danish association of investigative journalism and the network of Centers for investigative journalism which are a part of the OCCRP network (Organized crime and corruption project) based in Sarajevo. But, also at the same time, the appearance of SCOOP-Macedonia was also supported by other relevant organizations throughout the world, that are active in this area, and with whom we have had fruitful cooperation and enormous support in the process of establishing the centre.
The project SCOOP from Denmark, supported by the International media support, based in Copenhagen, in the previous years has helped the investigative journalism in Macedonia unselfishly, and the result was huge number of investigative stories, which were published in local, but also in the national printed and electronic media in the country. Encouraged by that fact, we would like to continue this mission with the new Center for investigative journalism SCOOP Macedonia, and in partnership with all organizations in the field of investigative journalism.
The aim of the Center for investigative journalism SCOOP-Macedonia is to continue to promote and stimulate the development of investigative journalism in Macedonia and wider, as a significant tool, fighting organized crime and corruption, to strengthen the democratic capacities and to improve the professional qualities of the journalism as well as the democratic atmosphere in Macedonia in general.
THE VISION of the organization is zero corruption, democratic and transparent institutions and quality life.
THE MISSION SCOOP-Macedonia is a group of experienced, professional journalists, whose mission is use of investigative journalism tools in order to decrease corruption and improving citizens’ lives for ensuring good governance, transparent institutions and protection of human rights.
The activities of SCOOP Macedonia will be aimed to stimulate the investigative journalism in the country through seminars, conferences, lectures as well as financial support and logistics for the journalists during their investigative work.
We see the challenge in networking of journalists in Macedonia with their colleagues from the region and wider, which we would like to improve because the borders should not be seen as an obstacle, but opportunity for better cooperation and also improving the skills in the journalistic investigations.
The organization cooperates with all regional centers for investigative journalism and abroad and is a part of the network of OCCRP centers.
STATUTE of the Center for investigative journalism SCOOP Macedonia.
SCOOP Macedonia is member of Global Investigative Journalism network (GIJN).
SCOOP Macedonia is founder and member of Southeastern coalition on Whistleblower protection.
President:
Zoran Ivanov is a doyen of Macedonian journalism. He started his extremely rich professional career as a journalist at Radio Skopje and continued as an editor and editor in chief in various media houses as Macedonian Radio – Radio Skopje, Radio Deutsche Welle, Cologne, Channel 103, MTV, TV Sitel, “Utrinski Vesnik”, TV Alfa etc. He continued his professional engagement as a program director of TV 24 News. He is the founder of the state news agency MIA, where he was director and editor in chief. He is also the founder of the Radio Channel 103. He was also government spokesman from 1997 to 1998. During the period 2007-2010 he was communication and media advisor and government adviser in the cabinet of the then President of Republic of Macedonia.
He has won numerous journalism awards, including: yearly awards in Radio Skopje and Macedonian allied radio stations for journalistic achievements; the award “Krste Petkov Misirkov” of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia; the annual journalistic award of the Macedonian Radio and Television; the award “Krste Petkov Misirkov” – journalist of the year by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia; the annual jubilee journalistic award for the 50th anniversary of the Macedonian Radio Television. He has received the award “Mito Hadzivasilev-Jasmin” for journalism three times. In 2012 he received the award “Krste Petkov Misirkov” for lifetime achievement by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia.
He has been agency journalism lecturer in postgraduate studies in journalism at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius “- Skopje and journalism trainer at the Macedonian Institute for Media – MIM.
He is an author of numerous publications such as: two-volume book “Ambient”, “Information and media” – in the “Culture of Peace” by Friedrich Ebert, “Ethics in journalism, ethics in the media business,” “Agency Journalism” – a script for postgraduate studies at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” and co-author of the textbook “Writing for electronic media”.
He loves parachuting. He has been president, vice president and secretary general of the Aeronautical Federation of Macedonia as well as selector and coach of the national parachuting team of Macedonia and international parachuting judge with FAI license.
He initiated the construction of sport airport Stenkovec and he has been chairman of the aero-club “Yuri Gagarin” – Skopje in two mandates. He has also organized a few air shows and sporting domestic and international aviation competitions.
He is a pilot of sport aircraft and aircrafts and has realized 2003 parachute jumps. He was a state representative in parachuting in the period 1971 – 1976. He has won 60 medals in Macedonia and within the SFRY in parachuting, and 14 of the prestigious international parachute games. He has been the athlete of the year by the Aeronautical Federation of Macedonia four times. He has also been a state champion in parachuting four times. He has received the “Golden badge with 3 diamonds” – the highest international recognition of World Air Sports Federation – FAI, and the international highest award of the World Air Sports Federation – FAI for 2006 – “Paul Tissandier” for universal contribution in the development of civil and air sports and special results in sport parachuting.
Founders/Directors:
Xhelal Neziri is experienced investigative reporter and analyst. Since 2008 he has been representing Danish SCOOP project in Macedonia, coordinating national and trans-national investigative stories. At the moment Neziri is co-founder and director of Centre for Investigative Journalism SCOOP-Macedonia based in Skopje, and member of International Advisory Board at Journalismfund.eu based in Brussels.
Contact: xhelalneziri@gmail.com
Zaklina Hadzi-Zafirova is a freelance journalist, with over 12 years of journalistic experience, mainly working with daily and weekly newspapers, but also having wider experience in international frames. She has been representing the Danish SCOOP in Macedonia, being a coordinator for the Macedonian speaking part of the SCOOP Network which is represented in Europe and abroad. Her main focus is the investigative journalism itself and its perspectives in the country and the region as well internationally. Zaklina is three times winner of a special recognition for investigative journalism by the Macedonian institute for media for the two stories “Unfinished projects-donations in Macedonia”, “How to become a Bulgarian over night” and “Pollution does not stop, every year 4,500 new cancer cases!
Contact: zaklina.zafirova@gmail.com
Aleksandar Bozhinovski is Macedonian award winning journalist with nearly 20 years of professional experience. He started as a court reporter back in 1994, while studying Journalism College. With time he progressed to investigative reporter which key areas were police, army, organized crime and corruption. While studying Bozhinovski first met with investigative journalism with lectures from Denis Hamilton, in those days, investigative reporter at LA Times who was visiting teacher in Skopje University. He also atended some NGO work about human right with people from National democratis institute from Washington. During he’s work in goverement owned Nova Makedonija daily (1999-2003) he wrote stories for Alternative information network, together with 20 other journalist from former Yugoslav republics, run by famous journalist Kim Mehmeti and funded by Council of Europe. Then, Bozhinovski was starter journalist in new daily Vreme were he achieve several rewards, like journalist of the year (for 2005) of Vreme, then Best investigative story from Danish sponsored Macedonian institute for media. This reward was for he’s best story to this date, known as Khalid el Masri case. Bozhinovski was the first journalist in the world to reveal a case of extraordinary rendition (kidnaping suspects for terrorism by intelligence agencies). Story was taken by NY Times and the spread around the world. German TV, ZDF teamed with Bozhinovski in 2005 for more investigation on Masri case.In this time, Bozhinovski start collaboration with Organized crime and corruption project, a journalist organization funded by USAID in Washington consisted of investigative journalist form 10 other countries that jointly do stories on subject of organized crime and corruption. Bozhinovski work of several stories for OCCRP and in 2010 was finalist for Daniel Pearl award on Global investigative journalist conference held in Geneva. He also did investigation for Global Integrity. Bozhinovski also worked investigations for weekly Forum, daily Den and weekly and portal Republika. In 2011 he, with Zaklina Hadzi Zafirova and Xhelal Neziri, founded Center for investigative journalism SCOOP Macedonia. During 2013 he was project manager of National Endowment for democracy project: Raising awareness about corruption trough investigative reporting.
Bozhinovski is a project manager of “Together we combat corruption” a 370.000 EUR three and a half year long project, funded by European union and serve as Executive director of SCOOP Macedonia. Project ended on April 30th, 2021.
Contact: aleksandar@scoop.mk; aleksandarmak@yahoo.com
