True Story Award 2025
The winners of the 2025 True Story Award were announced on Friday evening in Bern. National Council President Maja Riniker opened the award ceremony in front of over 300 guests, including the 36 nominated reporters. Russian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov then spoke about the global threat of fake news and called on the Swiss government to exert pressure on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the four winners in the newly created categories ‘Impact’, “Research” and ‘Storytelling’ by the main jury.
Pictures: True Story Foundation / Meinrad Schade
The winner of the True Story Award in the category «Storytelling» is Philippe Broussard for his reportage Looking for the mysterious Photographer who snapped the Nazis, published in Le Monde. The jury feels that this text is «an extraordinary example of storytelling, as well as research, one that restores the integrity of an individual who had been sidelined by history nearly a century after the dramatic events he documented. Broussard has given us a powerful narrative that reconnects us to a past that, we now know, was never truly past.»
The winner of the True Story Award in the category «Research» is Sara Abu Shadi for her text The Russian Trap, published in Masrawy. According to the Jury, «this is a meticulous and fearless investigation and reveals the story of foreign mercenaries hired to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Her research vividly exposes the underworld of commercial networks that feed off today’s wars. Abu Shadi gives voice to the people involved on all sides; the recruiters as well as the recruited. She deserves our respect for achieving this in a hostile reporting environment.»
The winners of the True Story Award in the category «Impact» are Alex Perry with Revelations of Atrocities, published in Politico Europe, and Murad Higazy with The Argany peninsula, published in Mada Masr. The jury feels strongly that this year, two pieces stand out for their unparalleled investigative work and the impact they both have had. «For the first time, the True Story Award honors two winners. The Argany Peninsula tells the story of an Egyptian kingpin who sells freedom to Palestinians trying to escape the horrors of Gaza. The Revelations of Atrocities exposes a campaign of organized violence against hundreds of civilians on behalf of a major French oil company in Mozambique. Both stories are exceptional examples of brave, bold, and impactful reporting at a time when the integrity of journalism is under global threat.»
All three winners receive the sum of US$ 20 000 each (split in two in the category «Impact»). The winners beat out 32 other nominees present in Bern. In total, 1049 entries were submitted from 102 countries in 25 languages. All nominees will present their work to the public at 45 events in the heart of Bern on Saturday and Sunday at the True Story Festival.
The True Story Award is the first globally-oriented journalism award, aiming to set an example and motivate journalists all over the world. Furthermore, its aim is to make reporters' voices known beyond the borders of their home countries, and in doing so, to increase the diversity of perspectives offered in the media.
The True Story Award is conferred by an independent foundation and honors the work of reporters who have distinguished themselves by the depth of their research, the quality of their journalism and its social relevance.
See below for the full list of winners and finalists.
True Story Award – Impact
Alex Perry
Revelations of Atrocities at French Energy Giant's African Stronghold
Original Language: English
Country: Mozambique
First Published: Politico Europe, Belgium, 2024-09-26
Murad Higazy
The Argany Peninsula
Original Language: Arabic
Country: Egypt/Gaza
First Published: Mada Masr Egypt, 2024-02-12
Finalists:
The Adventures of Ricardo Salgado of Arabia Paulo Barriga
Manipulation Center Pedro Pannunzio
True Story Award – Research
Sara Abu Shadi
The Russian Trap
Original Language: Arabic
Country: Egypt/Russia
First Published: Masrawy, Egypt, 2024-09-23
Finalists:
German museums reassessing Chinese treasures Ye Charlotte Ming
Greef and madness in the Berformance Universe Kevin Brühlmann
What Makes a Murder? Sarah Stillman
True Story Award – Storytelling
Philippe Broussard
Looking for the mysterious photographer who snapped occupied Paris and mocked the Nazis
Original Language: French
Country: France
First Published: Le Monde, France, 2024-08-13
Finalists:
A Stranger in Saint-Paul de Vence Kiprop Kimutai
He was 19 Michael Schilliger
Widowed by Europe's Borders Gabriela Ramirez / Tina Xu