The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Journalists must be free to do their work. That is non-negotiable. Each year the European Parliament renews its commitment to uphold media and press freedom, in tribute to the fearless journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne was assassinated, but her spirit endures in the work of journalists who, just like her, champion truth, pluralism and justice. This prize belongs to them”.
The Prize is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality, who can submit in-depth pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. The aim is to support and highlight the importance of professional journalism in safeguarding human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.
An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European Associations of Journalism, will choose the winning entry. The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated.
The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrates the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism.
MEPs have repeatedly denounced the attacks on journalists, particularly from politicians, across many member states, and called on the Commission to table legislation against abusive lawsuits. The first new rules to tackle malicious litigation against critical voices were approved in February 2024. In March, the Parliament also gave its green light to the European Media Freedom Act, a new law to protect EU journalists and freedom of the press.
Journalists can submit their article(s) online at https://daphnejournalismprize.eu/ by 31 July 2024, 12 PM (CET).
Who was Daphne Caruana Galizia?
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who reported extensively on corruption, money laundering, organised crime, sale of citizenship and the Maltese government’s links to the Panama Papers. Following harassment and threats, she was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. The outcry over the authorities’ handling of her murder investigation ultimately prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Critical of failings in the investigation, in December 2019, MEPs called on the European Commission to take action.
In October 2023, six years after her assassination, Parliament expressed concern that limited progress has been made on her murder. MEPs regretted that the investigations have led to only three convictions and insisted that everyone involved needs to be brought to justice.
