Nominate journalism on crises and conflicts for the Award for Development Journalism
A record number of journalists have died while reporting on the world's crises and conflicts. We are looking for a winner for the Award for Development Journalism among journalistic products that explain the status of crises and conflicts around the world.
At its best, journalism helps us to understand the world and its complex phenomena. The theme of the 2025 Award for Development Journalism is crises and conflicts. The competition highlights stories that provide insight on the status, background and significance of crises and conflicts as part of global developments.
Award-winning journalism can approach crises and conflicts from many different angles. The aim is to make the work that journalists do in crisis zones, often at the risk of their health and lives, visible. In recent years, the work has been exceptionally dangerous: in 2024 alone, a record number of 122 journalists died while reporting on world events.
Nominate an impressive profile piece, investigative article, TV programme or a podcast that helps us to better understand the reality of crises and conflicts.
Journalistic content intended for the Finnish audience and published in a member media of the Council for Mass Media in Finland committed to the Guidelines for Journalists between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025 can be nominated for the award. The content must be published in Finnish, Swedish, Sámi languages or English.
You can nominate candidates for the award between 17 November and 31 December 2025 by using the form at vikes.fi/en/the-award-for-development-journalism
The winner will be selected by an independent jury and announced in February 2026. The winner will receive a EUR 3,000 cash prize, in addition to which a number of candidates may receive honourable mentions. The award is taxable income for the recipient.
The jury includes:
Anu Sajavaara, National Conciliator
Irene Zidan, foreign reporter and author
Johanna Sumuvuori, Director of the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management
Tommi Nieminen, winner of the 2024 award, Helsingin Sanomat
Sami Kero, winner of the 2024 award, Helsingin Sanomat
Development journalism is defined as content that addresses global sustainable development themes in a high-quality manner, reshapes the opinions and attitudes of the public and offers new viewpoints on the realities of developing countries. The jury hopes to receive, in particular, nominations representing innovative forms of journalism from all fields of journalism. Non-fiction books may not, however, be entered into the competition.
The Finnish Red Cross, the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development Vikes, the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation and the Union of Journalists in Finland have established the award to highlight high-quality and innovative journalistic publications that explore global themes and to increase the visibility of and appreciation for Finnish development journalism.
The 2024 award was presented to Tommi Nieminen and Sami Kero for their article ‘Maapallon mahtavin vaalisirkus' (Helsingin Sanomat). Maailman kuvalehti received an honourable mention.
More information on the competition:
Tiina Helin, Communications Specialist, Vikes, tiina.helin@vikes.fi
Minttu-Maaria Partanen, Communications Specialist, Finnish Red Cross, minttu-maaria.partanen@punainenristi.fi
