John S. Knight Journalism Fellow, Stanford University

From Eastern Europe to the United States: Why Investigative Journalism Matters in the Digital Age

Djordje Padejski was born and raised in Zrenjanin, Serbia where he studied literature. He is currently working toward a master’s degree at Belgrade University.

In 1997 he began reporting on corruption and organized crime for various print media during the Milosevic regime.

In 2006 his stories about organized crime and bird smuggling won the Serbian Award for Investigative Reporting from the joint committee of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia. And in 2007 Padejski formed Serbia’s first center for investigative reporting under the Independent Journalists’ Association, where he conducted training sessions and oversaw investigative projects.

Padejski joined the Organized Crime and Corruption Project in 2008, working with the Center for Public Integrity on cross-border investigative projects in the Balkans such as criminal organizations that distribute cocaine, heroin, and tobacco; governmental corruption; and corruption in oil and gas sectors. He has also authored reports on corruption for Global Integrity and other outlets in Belgium, Italy, and Germany.