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Arlis is an accomplished investigative journalist with critically acclaimed reporting on environmental and social issues in the Balkan region. During his Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Arlis wrote an in-depth investigative article into illegal logging in Albania’s largest national park, Shebenik-Jabllanice, the last virgin forest trees along the green belt in Europe, which was published regionally in eight languages. He won the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2019 for his investigation, which is meant to acknowledge his courageous reporting and the importance of the work of young local journalists. During his work, Alikaj had to face many challenges including harassment and threats from local authorities. He has also worked with CiFAR, a global civil society organisation based in Berlin fighting the theft of state assets. Here he led a cross-border investigation on illegal working permits in the UNESCO site of Lake Ohrid, which is shared by Albania and North Macedonia, in which he documented the corruption and the arbitrary decisions of certain powerful local figures taking place on both sides of Lake Ohrid. Over the past couple years, Arlis has worked as local fixer for foreign journalists operating in Albania on behalf of the Wall Street Journal, Omroep Gelderland, and other international media institutions as they report on organized crime and other issues connected to Albania. His work has included arranging interviews, managing logistics, and translating between Albanian and English. His work was critical in making their articles a success.