The non-profit media organization Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) received 5 million Macedonian denars from the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS), for checking the facts in the pre-election period that political candidates present during public appearances, appearances in debate shows, public discussions and debates, public opinion surveys, PR announcements or promises that are repeated in almost all election programs.
It remains unclear how exactly IRL was chosen from the group of media that profile and declare themselves as media engaged in investigative journalism.
The publisher of the media in question is a non-governmental and non-profit organization.
“The products produced within the framework of this donation will be added value to the organization’s activities that support the governments of the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Public Service, activities in which AVMS joins,” reads the agency’s initial statement.
