Journalism award will champion “truth and justice”

Martin Banks
Journalism - production and distribution of reports that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree, word cloud concept background

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), Entries are invited for this year’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

The prize is open to professional Journalists and teams of professional Journalists of any nationality, who can submit “in-depth” pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries.

The aim is to support and highlight the importance of professional journalism in safeguarding human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights.

The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.

At the launch of the 2024 edition, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Journalists must be free to do their work. That is non-negotiable. Each year the European Parliament renews its commitment to uphold media and press freedom, in tribute to the fearless Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne was assassinated, but her spirit endures in the work of Journalists who, just like her, champion truth, pluralism, and justice.”

The MEP added, “This prize belongs to them”.

An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European Associations of Journalism, will choose the winning entry.

The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated.

The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism.

MEPs have repeatedly denounced the attacks on Journalists, particularly from politicians, across many member states. The first new rules to tackle malicious lititgation against critical voices were approved in February 2024. In March, the Parliament also gave its green light to the European Media Freedom Act.

Caruana Galizia was a Maltese Journalist, blogger, and anti-corruption activist who reported extensively on corruption, money laundering, organized crime, the sale of citizenship, and the Maltese government’s links to the Panama Papers.

Following harassment and threats, she was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. The outcry over the authorities’ handling of her murder investigation ultimately prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Critical of failings in the investigation, in December 2019, MEPs called on the European Commission to take action.

In October 2023, six years after her assassination, MEPs voiced concern.

 MEPs regretted that the investigations have led to only three convictions and insisted that everyone involved needs to be brought to justice.

Entries are invited for this year’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

The prize is open to professional Journalists and teams of professional Journalists of any nationality, who can submit “in-depth” pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries.

The aim is to support and highlight the importance of professional journalism in safeguarding human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights.

The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.

At the launch of the 2024 edition, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Journalists must be free to do their work. That is non-negotiable. Each year the European Parliament renews its commitment to uphold media and press freedom, in tribute to the fearless Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne was assassinated, but her spirit endures in the work of Journalists who, just like her, champion truth, pluralism, and justice.”

The MEP added, “This prize belongs to them”.

An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European Associations of Journalism, will choose the winning entry.

The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated.

The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism.

MEPs have repeatedly denounced the attacks on Journalists, particularly from politicians, across many member states. The first new rules to tackle malicious litigation against critical voices were approved in February 2024. In March, the Parliament also gave its green light to the European Media Freedom Act.

Caruana Galizia was a Maltese Journalist, blogger, and anti-corruption activist who reported extensively on corruption, money laundering, organized crime, the sale of citizenship, and the Maltese government’s links to the Panama Papers.

Following harassment and threats, she was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. The outcry over the authorities’ handling of her murder investigation ultimately prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Critical of failings in the investigation, in December 2019, MEPs called on the European Commission to take action.

In October 2023, six years after her assassination, MEPs voiced concern.

 MEPs regretted that the investigations have led to only three convictions and insisted that everyone involved needs to be brought to justice.

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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Martin Banks is an experienced British-born journalist who has been covering the EU beat (and much else besides) in Brussels since 2001. Previously, he had worked for many years in regional journalism in the UK and freelanced for national titles. He has a keen interest in foreign affairs and has closely followed the workings of the European Parliament and MEPs in particular for some years.
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