For ultimate success in the West, they say, ten percent talent, just as much luck and 80 percent of hard and persistent work is necessary.

Veran Matić and the media project B92 since the early 1990's until the recent sale to the Greek-Swedish co-owners, grew into a kind of a media phenomenon because the usual formula for success was outdone multiple times. The abnormal political and social conditions in which in 1992 the first Serbian pro-democracy movement started to emerge, demanded much more talent and luck and work.

For what they left in their wake, the "Ninety-Two" and Veran Matić received the recognition as the media outlet of the decade in this part of the world, in a glamorous ceremony in Sarajevo on the occasion of the proclamation of the Best Manager of Eastern and Central Europe.

The privilege and honor of presenting this outstanding award went to renowned Bosnian journalist with an international career, Zkerihaj Smajić, as the first recipient of this prestigious award "Journalist of the Decade for Contribution to the Europeanization of the Region and Ethics in the media."

The award's explanation states that B92 was created in the fateful time when truth and freedom of speech were punished by expulsion or liquidation, and the toughest bases of its 20-year growth were Veran Matić's vision, the professionalism and courage of its employees. That is why B92 and Veran Matić grewn into a special media Serbia, Europe, and the world. No other broadcaster stepped through so many visible and invisible thorns.

That "rotten and cynical West" has long realized the role and importance of the Belgrade media and gave it during the past years numerous honors and awards, and in Serbia itself and the region, it is equally praised and criticized, all the way to threats of liquidation of its main actors. This is Serbia no matter how near or far it is of the European Union.

And because of that, the award from Sarajevo has a special importance. And a message.