Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media – Call for nominations (by 28 Feb 2017)

Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig is looking for candidates for the 2017 Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media. Which person or organisation recently made an extraordinary effort to protect press and media freedom?

Please send your nomination with a short justification until 28 February 2017 to info@leipziger-medienstiftung.de. The prize is worth 30,000 euros.

The Leipzig Media Prize is expressly not about a bold and daring feat of journalism or an exceptional piece of journalistic work. The prize is intended for distinguished journalists, publishers and media institutions from around the world that are committed to the cause of protecting and expanding freedom of the press, and in doing so display a willingness to take risks, great personal commitment, persistence, courage and a firm belief in democracy.

Ruling elites in many countries around the world use dubious media laws, pressure on journalists and publishers, paternalism in radio and television, and state censorship as instruments of power. But also processes of economic concentration and self-censorship endanger the plurality of expression and are an obstacle to independent reporting. Journalists themselves bow to the dictates of shareholders and compromise their credibility by publishing too quickly.

The previous prizewinners resisted these threats and temptations.

It is the aim of the Leipzig Media Foundation to embolden the spirits of them and others.

More information on the prize webpage