Press Releases
Journalist Kristian Stepčić Reisman Awarded Best Article on Local Democracy Issues
For Immediate Release
July 6, 2005
Zagreb, 6 July 2005 - On 28 June 2005, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Local Government Reform Project, convened a group of media and local government professionals to select the best media report on local government affairs. The awardee is the Glas Istre reporter Kristian Stepcic Reisman. His work was published by Glas Istre on 28 April 2005 under the title "Pre-Election Twists and Turns in St. Nedelja - More Independent Lists Than Parties".
The contest was open to all participants of the April 2005 workshop on the "Role of Media in Local Democracy". The purpose of the workshop was to discuss strategies to better inform citizens about local government authorities and the impact of local elections on the functioning of local governments. A total of 14 submissions were received from across the country. The topics ranged from local economic development, waste disposal issues, local business opportunities, the role of local governments and public education in the areas of special state concern and overlapping authorities between central, regional and local governments.
Mr. Stepcic Reisman will participate in one of the upcoming Croatian-U.S. city twinning visits, which link American and Croatian local leaders and professionals in an effort to improve local governance and respond more effectively to local issues.
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.