The Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism – Call for applications
The second Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism will be awarded in early November 2024, marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, established in 2013 by the United Nations at France’s initiative as a tribute to Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, French journalists who were murdered in Mali.
The prize distinguishes the work of journalists and photojournalists committed to carrying out their essential role of spreading information, particularly in crisis or conflict theatres.
By awarding this prize, France reaffirms its constant commitment to defending freedom of the press and pays homage to two figures who were killed in the line of duty and symbolize journalistic courage. One of those figures is Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya who, liek six of her colleagues, paid with her life for her investigations published in Novaya Gazeta on corruption, human rights violations and the war in Chechnya. The other figure is Arman Soldin, a French-Bosnian photojournalist for AFP who was killed in the field on 9 May 2023. His work helped inform the entire world of the reality of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
For the first edition in 2023, the jury awarded the first prize to Mexican journalist Marcela Turati who, despite the risks of reporting in her country, documents violence related to drug trafficking and the social consequences of the war waged against cartels.
The jury also awarded a special prize to French Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi, who was detained by the Taliban for 284 days due to his journalism work before finally being freed on 18 October 2023.
Anna Politkovskaya - Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism - Download the 2024 form - (Word, 14.5 kb)
The prize is accompanied by the payment of a lump sum of €10,000, which must be used to finance a project carried out by the prize-winner.