The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF) invites freelance journalists, local reporters, and news fixers from around the globe to submit their entries for the prestigious 24th Annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism.
These awards recognize excellence and courage in reporting on critical issues such as conflict, corruption, injustice, and human rights violations. T
he awards come with a $5,000 cash prize for the winners, highlighting the importance of journalism amidst a growing climate of violence toward media professionals.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the number of journalists killed in 2024 reached record highs, making these awards more crucial than ever.
Named in honor of Kurt Schork, an American freelance journalist tragically killed in 2000 while on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone, the awards celebrate the bravery of journalists who risk their lives to expose the truth and hold those in power accountable.
Award Categories:
Freelance Award:
- This category honors freelance journalists who venture into the world’s most perilous conflict zones, often at significant personal risk, to document the impact and consequences of such events.
Local Reporter Award:
- This award acknowledges the often-overlooked contributions of journalists operating in developing nations or countries in transition, who write about events that deeply affect their homeland.
News Fixer Award:
- This category celebrates the crucial role of local journalists or experts hired by foreign correspondents. Their guidance and local knowledge are vital for facilitating international coverage from challenging, dangerous, or hostile environments.
Important Dates and Submission Guidelines:
Applications are now open, with a deadline for submissions set for midnight (GMT) on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Freelance and Local Reporter Award applicants must submit three articles published between June 1, 2024, and June 15, 2025. The judging panel will assess submissions for journalistic excellence, determination, and courage in presenting their stories.
News Fixer Award applicants are required to submit three references from foreign correspondents they have collaborated with during the same timeframe.
The jury will evaluate the applicant’s skill set, including news judgment, story leads, and logistical support, alongside how their contribution has enhanced the coverage’s content, impact, and reach.
Background on the News Fixer Award:
Launched in 2016 and first presented in 2017, the News Fixer Award was inspired by Anna Husarska, a freelance journalist, author, and friend of Kurt Schork.
It seeks to highlight and appreciate the invaluable support that news fixers provide in the field.
Further details regarding eligibility, entry requirements, and the online entry forms, as well as FAQs, can be found on the KSMF website.
Past Winners:
The Kurt Schork Awards have recognized outstanding journalists from various corners of the world, tackling a spectrum of critical issues. Among the 2024 awardees were:
- Juan José Martínez d’Aubuisson (Freelance category)
- Jeff Mackenley Garcon (Local Reporter category)
- Ievgeniia Sivorka and Oleksandr Chubko (shared the News Fixer Award)
These individuals were honored for their courageous reporting on gangs in Central America and the Caribbean, as well as their extensive coverage of the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Awards are administrated and supported by the Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion and Social Justice (CESJ), based at Bournemouth University.
For additional information and to submit entries, please visit the KSMF website.
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