The European Press Prize has just announced its 2025 shortlist, spotlighting 25 exceptional pieces of journalism from across the continent. The announcement took place at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, continuing a tradition of celebrating fearless and innovative reporting.
The shortlist spans five categories:
- Distinguished Reporting Award
- Innovation Award
- Investigative Reporting Award
- Public Discourse Award
- Migration Journalism Award
The shortlisted entries explore themes as urgent as they are diverse — from forced child labour in Madagascan mines and the ongoing humanitarian toll in Gaza, to the ethical dilemmas of end-of-life care and the environmental consequences of pesticide use in Europe.
With projects selected from over 800 submissions across 44 countries, this year’s finalists not only reflect the breadth of challenges shaping our world but also showcase the evolving methods used to uncover and explain them. From satellite imagery and machine learning to undercover investigations and cross-border collaborations, journalists continue to push the boundaries of storytelling.
Announced for the third consecutive year in Perugia, this year’s shortlist also arrives during a time of mounting pressure on the press. Cristian Lupșa, Chair of the Preparatory Committee, highlighted the difficult context in which many of these stories were reported:
“The Committee is an incredible group of colleagues and peers from across Europe—diverse, passionate, and deeply committed to identifying the most
exemplary and impactful journalism. We’ve read hundreds of stories, had many
conversations and debates, and we believe the finalists we chose reflect the urgency
and importance of journalism today—standing for truth, justice, and a better world”,
said Lupșa.
From grassroots reporting to large-scale investigations with global impact, the shortlisted stories illuminate hidden truths and challenge power structures — often at great personal risk to the journalists involved.
The final winners and runners-up will be selected by the European Press Prize Panel of Judges and announced at the Awards Ceremony on May 28 in Bari, Italy. Each award carries a €10,000 prize to support the future work of the recipients.
You can view the full 2025 Shortlist — including summaries of all selected projects — here
About the European Press Prize
The European Press Prize celebrates the highest achievements in European journalism. It is made possible by a number of foundations and organisations that strive to encourage quality journalism in Europe: Democracy and Media Foundation, iMEdD – Incubator for Media Education and Development, Jyllands-Posten Foundation, Media Development Investment Fund, Politiken Foundation, the Scott Trust, The Irish Times Trust Limited, and Vereniging Veronica. Additionally, support for the European Press Prize’s Migration Journalism Award comes from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
The European Press Prize is awarded on a yearly basis in five categories: Distinguished Reporting, Innovation, Investigative Reporting, Public Discourse, and Migration Journalism. The Panel of Judges also awards a Special Award to journalism that defies categories and disciplines. Each award is worth €10,000.
iMEdD is a funding member in the European Press Prize.
