Brussels, 13/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 October, the president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, awarded the EP's annual prize for journalism. Polish, Swedish, Hungarian and British journalists were rewarded in four categories: written press, radio, TV and the internet. Each winner received €5,000. Awarding the prize, Buzek said: “By its decision to create this prize, the European Parliament wants to promote critical and impartial journalism. I know how difficult a task it can be to explain Europe, its policies and its decisions. But it is vital”.
Witold Szab³owski of the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza won the written press award for his article “Today two bodies will wash ashore”. The article depicts the problem of illegal immigration to the European Union. It was described as “informative, lively and authentic”. As one jury member put it, praising the quality of writing in the report, reading this article is like reading “a work of literature”.
Kajsa Norell and Nuri Kino of Sveriges Radio Ekot (Sweden) won the radio award for an investigative report on EU financial support to Turkey. As their report shows, EU funding does not make it all the way to local farmers in Turkey. The programme was made in the Turkish countryside and in Ankara, and was described by the jury as “an excellent investigation” characterised by “perfect timing and length”.
Zsolt Németh of MTV Hungary won the TV award category for his “Euforia” programme, which presents the history of the European Union in an understandable and entertaining way to younger people and those unfamiliar with EU affairs. The jury praised the programme's quality and also its imagination, something often missing from TV projects on the EU. Above all, the programme manages to be “attractive, funny and educational at the same time”.
James Clive-Matthews of the UK won the internet award for his blog article “EUtopia - What percentage of laws come from the EU?” According to the jury, the author has done “extraordinary research work” and has carried out a serious statistical and comparative study but his article can also “be read with a lot of pleasure”.
The European Parliament prize for journalism has been awarded every year for the last three years. Journalists are awarded the prize for covering major European scenes or promoting greater understanding of the institutions and policies in a particularly interesting way. This year, 371 journalists entered the competition and 76 national prize-winners were then selected by juries consisting of journalists in the member states. (I.L./transl.fl)