The Chisinau Press Club – the Independent Journalism Center and the Committee for the Freedom of the Press – held the traditional 10 Journalists of the Year Gala on December 22. This year, the laureates were selected by the members of the Independent Journalism Center's Senate. There were used the following criteria: professionalism, objectivity and observance of the deontological norms. The 10 journalists of the year 2009 are: Valentina Baciu, “Timpul” newspaper; Vasile Botnaru, Radio Free Europe; Oleg Brega, “Jurnal TV”; Angela Gonta, PRO TV Chisinau; Rodica Mahu, “Jurnal de Chisinau” newspaper; Ruslan Mihalevski, “SP” newspaper in Balti; Maria Parfionova, “Teleradio-Gagauzia”/Radio Gagauzia; Alina Radu, “Ziarul de Garda” newspaper; Corneliu Rusnac, “Associated Press” and “Imedia”; Alexandr Takii, “Ekonomicheskoe Obozrenie Logos-Press” newspaper; Seven special prizes were awarded at the Gala: Excellence Prize - for journalistic longevity: writer and publicist Serafim Saka; Hope of the Year: Tatiana Zabulica, SOR TV; Development of the Year: Jurnal Trust Media; Special Prize of the Independent Journalism Center – for promoting diversity in the mass media: Angelica Jelnova, Radio Jelannoe, Rybnitsa; OWH TV Studio was awarded for the documentary “Capcana”; The news portal Unimedia won the prize “For Innovation in the Internet Press”, while Dumitru Lazur – a special prize for the investigation “Minister Baldovich Hides Interests”.