Journalists Worldwide Can Apply for the 2025 Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism ($5,000 Prize)

Mercy Awofiranye

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The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF) invites freelance journalists, local reporters and news fixers from around the world to submit entries for the 24th annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism. Apply below:

When is the Application Deadline:

The deadline for submissions is midnight (GMT) on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

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Tell Me About The Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism:

The Awards recognize excellence and courage in reporting conflict, corruption, injustice and human rights issues, with winners receiving a $5,000 cash prize. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports the number of journalists killed in 2024 reached record highs. As levels of violence and intimidation against media professionals surge, this recognition remains as vital as ever. The three award categories, open to those reporting for print and online publications, recognize the media professionals that Kurt particularly admired:

  • Freelance Award: recognizing freelance journalists who travel to the world’s conflict zones, usually at great personal risk, to witness and report on the impact and consequences of these events.
  • Local Reporter Award: recognizing the often-overlooked work of journalists in developing nations, or countries in transition, who write about events in their homeland.
  • News Fixer Award: recognizing the work of local journalists or experts, typically hired by foreign correspondents, whose guidance and local knowledge play an unsung but vital role in facilitating international coverage from difficult, dangerous or hostile locations.

Which Fields are Eligible?

Journalism

Type:

Journalism award 

Who can Apply for the Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism?

The submission criteria include:

Freelance Award and Local Reporter Award:

  • Entrants to the Freelance Award must submit three articles each.
  • The submitted articles must have been published between June 01, 2024 and June 15, 2025.
  • Accepted media: any print-based medium, such as newspapers and magazines, or established online publications. Blogs, personal websites and social media pages or channels are not accepted.
  • Articles can encompass war reporting, human rights issues, cross-border troubles, corruption or other controversial matters impacting on people’s lives. Judges will be looking for professionalism, high journalistic standards, and evidence of dedication and courage in obtaining the story.
  • Because of problems with scanned entries and failed links in previous years, we require that each article be provided as a text file – MS Word (.doc or .docx) or similar text format (.rtf), or a PDF of a text file.
  • You may supply a URL link to your article(s), or a scan (as a PDF or JPG file) as supporting evidence of the publication context, but your entry will be disqualified if you do not also submit the required text files.

News Fixer Award:

  • The News Fixer Award requires applicants to submit three references from foreign correspondents with whom they have worked between June 01, 2024 and June 15, 2025.
  • The references from foreign correspondents must contain links to the story or stories generated because of the applicant’s involvement.
  • A template for references can be found and downloaded here. Applicants can send the template to the foreign correspondents to complete, and then upload the references when completing the entry form.
  • Articles can encompass war reporting, human rights issues, cross-border troubles, corruption or other controversial matters impacting on people’s lives

Required Documents:

Applicants are to submit the following documents:

Freelance Award and Local Reporter Award:

  • A CV or resumé about your education and journalism career.
  • A passport-quality photo (JPEG, GIF or PNG file, size no larger than 250Kb) of yourself.
  • A high standard English translation if the original articles are not in English.
  • A short statement explaining what you had to do to get the story.

Kindly note the maximum file size for text submissions or scans is 5Mb. Entrants must complete the online entry form (or a PDF for printing and posting if not possible).

News Fixer Award:

  • A CV or resumé about your education and career.
  • A passport-quality photo (JPEG, GIF or PNG file, size no larger than 250Kb) of yourself.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

All countries 

How Many Awards?

Not specified

What is the Benefit of the Award?

Each award category comes with a $5,000 cash prize and global recognition for outstanding journalistic work.

How Long Will the Award Last?

The award is a one-time award.

How to Apply:

  • Visit the official webpage.
  • Select the category you want to apply for
  • Fill out and submit the form. 

Visit the official webpage to begin.

Author

  • Mercy Awofiranye is a creative writer with over five years of experience. Currently, she specializes in creating helpful content for students in the education space. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, and learning new things.

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