"The different styles of journalism across Member
States - The Bulgarian style of investigative
journalism"
Ms. Reneta Nikolova,
Chair of the Board of the Bulgarian
Club of Journalists Against Corruption.
Warsaw , Poland 24-26.06 2009
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Some historical conditions

In Bulgaria we can speak
about investigative journalism
not until 1990 – the year that
marks the end of the
totalitarian regime and the
beginning of the transition to
democracy.
Before
that
period, in the conditions of
authoritarian communist rule,
it was not possible such type
of journalism – investigative
journalism - to exist, let alone
speak of freedom of speech
and freedom of media.

The other peculiarity was the
existence of the Bulgarian secret
services called State Security –
services that spread their influence
in all spheres of life through their
agents and informers, including the
sphere of journalism. That was a
very successful way to manipulate
public opinion as well as a form of
subordination of people who can
conceal, manipulate and interpret
according to “a suitable way” the
necessary information. Now, with
the process of opening of the secret
communist files, but mind 18 years
later, it turned out that hundreds of
journalists have worked all the time
for the secret communist services.

I think that these are two of the
factors that we should have in mind.
So, the year was 1996, 3 May.

That was time of gang wars in Bulgaria,
time when organized crime groups
divided territories by force. In the suburbs
of Sofia during the successive fire attack
three policemen were killed. The country
was shocked. The same evening a TV
team received information that the then
interior minister was at a party celebrating
in the company of models after a beauty
pageant, models alleged to be very close
to one of the gang groups. The behavior
of the minister on the condition that three
policemen were killed on the same day
and the country was in mourning was
absolutely inadequate. This reportage
broadcast on TV brought to his
resignation. As a result of the crisis in the
country at the end of 1996 the
government of the ex communist rule fell.

This example is indicative of the
role and power of TV journalism
and illustrates part of the style of
investigative journalism used a lot
at present. I will call it shot at
point-blank.

Usually a journalist receives
information that a certain public
figure will be at an unsuitable
place with unsuitable people – the
team goes to the place and takes
pictures which are later irrefutable
evidence of the journalist’s thesis
about the certain politician, mayor,
magistrate or other public figure.
There are a lot of such examples
and they usually lead to noisy
scandals
that
end
with
resignations
of
the
people
involved.
Hidden camera

Another often used method of
work in TV investigations is the
hidden camera. It is primarily
used by private televisions. It is
rather attractive and has a very
strong effect on TV viewers. It has
also shortcomings – in most
cases the picture and the sound
are of low quality and according to
Bulgarian legislation they cannot
serve as evidence in court. Most
often these cases are shot in
connection with fraud and bribes,
such as doctors who want money
from
patients,
administrative
servants who want money from
citizens, as well as in issuing
different licenses as driving
licenses
or
bribing
traffic
policemen in road accidents.
The big investigations
Documentary

Speaking about Bulgarian investigative journalism I cannot
but mention another part of it without which the Bulgarian
style of investigative journalism would not be complete. I
would call it documentary, heavy investigative journalism. In
the interest of truth in most cases it can be seen in the press.
Part of it is connected with the peculiarity that I mentioned at
the beginning of my presentation – our heritage from the
State Security. Part of the files of that megaservice were
opened and some Bulgarian investigative journalists began serious investigations in
the documents in the search for truth on emblematic for Bulgaria cases on which
facts were intentionally concealed in the past years. We are speaking about cases
that are internationally known, such as the murder of the Bulgarian writer and
dissident Georgi Markov in London and the coup against the Pope. I can mention
here my personal experience as a TV journalist and producer of the film on
screenplay by the investigative journalist Hristo Hristov about the truth of “The Secret
Case of the Labour Camps” – a documentary which reveals horrific facts about the
monstrous crimes in the labour camps during communism and an investigative
documentary about the kidnapping from Denmark and the murder of a Bulgarian
emigrant – the film is called “State Security Service against the Bulgarian Emigres”.
Privatization, economy, euro funds

The second part of the serious
investigations concern the criminal
way in which privatization was done
in Bulgaria, the different economic
crimes and the fraud and misuse
with euro funds which became
topical issues for our country. A
series of examples can be
mentioned – the investigations of
colleagues connected with the
programs SAPARD, Republican
Road Infrastructure Fund, PHARE
and others.
From my personal experience as a TV journalist, author and presenter of the program
on BNT 1 “We and the Law” I would like to mention the latest case on which I worked.
It was connected with a mayor of municipality who has misappropriated approximately
BGN 400,000 (EUR 200,000) through the PHARE program for the building of an ecopath, bicycle alley and an information tourist center. When we visited the municipality,
we could not find the eco-path as there was not such path and the bike alley was
actually a 200-m asphalt alley leading to the forest. All these procurement orders of this
project the mayor who is investigated by the prosecution has given to the company of
his brother.
Club – Journalists against Corruption – the
Bulgarian model of union of investigative
journalists

On 6 April 2004 25 journalists from 19 leading electronic and
print media established the non-governmental organization
Club – Journalists against Corruption with the main objective
to join the efforts of media, institutions and civil society to
provoke intolerance to corruption and fraud with euro funds.
This year our association celebrates its 5th anniversary and
since its founding it has established as one of the most
authoritative anti-corruption organizations in Bulgaria. The
Club was the first media organization which in 2006 asked for
monitoring on involvement of its members with services of
the former State Security. Out of 163 monitored journalists 6
proved agents who were immediately expelled from the
organization. Except for integrated investigative campaigns in
the most problematic spheres, as public procurement, repairs
with state funds, local government, licensing regimes, etc.
the Club develops serious activities regarding the prevention
of corruption and fraud with euro funds.
The Project

The project “Mastering the Experience of the
OLAF Communications Network and the New
European Models of Partnership with the
Judicial System” has been determined as one
of the most successful projects realized
through
the
Administrative
Capacity
Operational Program and the European Social
Fund. The documentary “OLAF – the Euro
Funds Watchdog” was made for which the
authors received special greetings by the
European Commission’s President Jose
Manuel Barroso. The audience of the film is
over 2 million, it can be seen on the Internet
and there is also a special presentation of the
project.

“Prevention is always better than cure” is one
of the principles on which the Club is working,
whose members are one of the well-known
Bulgarian investigative journalists.
The Problems

Speaking about the vision of Bulgarian
investigative journalism we should also mark the
problems which face Bulgarian investigative
journalists. I will cite here “Reporters without
Boundaries”:

Bulgarian
investigative
journalism
is
endangered, says a report from February 2009.

Investigative journalism and pluralism of
information
in
Bulgaria
are
seriously
endangered by mafia groups and different kinds
of political and economic pressure. This is
pointed in a special report on the condition of
journalists in our country by the media
organization for human rights “Reporters without
Boundaries”.

The mafia groups have realized the importance
of control over information and the different
benefits that can be derived of that by spreading
their influence into the media sector, according
to the research called “Resignation or
resistance,
Bulgaria’s
embattled
press
hesitates”.

According to the organization, the
control of grey economy is already
endangering the existence of
investigative journalism and the
pluralism of information.

The situation that we found during
our mission in Sofia worries us, say
representatives
of
“Reporters
without Boundaries”.

“Certain journalists have resigned to
auto-censorship while others resist
actively the political and economic
pressure. The murder of Georgi
Stoev in April 2008 and the brutal
attack on Ognyan Stefanov in
September 2008 reminded what
risks run those who deny turning
the press into a simple instrument
of communication in service of
private interests”, the introduction of
the report says.

“To the fight against
those mafia groups
and their abilities to
harm the media
should more than
ever approach at
European level. This
should be a priority
of
the
political
figures for whom
Europeans will vote
in June”, said JeanFrancois
Julliard,
Secretary General
of Reporters without
Boundaries.

The organization appeals to
European institutions and
European press to maintain
their interest and to expand
their support. This will
significantly strengthen the
efficacy
of
nongovernmental organizations
in defense for freedom of
speech and the Bulgarian
press, is written on the site
of the organization.

Bulgaria was ranked 59th
for freedom of media in the
world
classification
of
Reporters
without
Boundaries.
In conclusion

Today Bulgaria faces very serious
challenges. Along with the economic
crisis serious problems remain the highlevel corruption, the misuse of European
funds and the lack of visible results, i.e.
effective sentences in the fight against
crime. The role of media in opposing and
preventing these phenomena is crucial.
This is, of course, a rather dangerous role
which hides big risks. In this connection,
the support to Bulgarian media on the
part of international and European
federations
and
other
European
institutions is very important.
I would like to pay special attention to the signed in 2005 memorandum of
cooperation between the European Anti-Fraud Office and the International
Federation of Journalists and to underline the great significance of the
Communicators Network of OLAF and especially to its Chairman Alessandro Buttice.
The Union of Journalists in
Bulgaria “Podkrepa” together
with the Union of Bulgarian
Journalists will be working
very actively as a watchdog in
realizing media monitoring on
the institutions responsible for
the assimilation of European
funds.
In conclusion and in connection with the main theme of the seminar I would like to
express my confidence that what will make us stronger is unity – united efforts in
the name of common causes, improving professional standards and perseverance
in defending our positions, such as the initiative for ethical and qualitative
journalism launched by the International Federation of Journalists. What is more –
despite the difficulties and the pressure we shall continue to make investigative
journalism and to inform the society because there is no real democracy without
free media.

Thank you for your attention
CLUB JOURNALISTS AGAINST CORRUPTION
12 Vitosha Bul. Fl.6
1000 – Sofia, Bulgaria
www.nenakorupciata.org
Tel./Fax: + 359 2 987 65 50
nenakorupciata@abv.bg