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We and our 15 partners congratulate the 19 organizations that have earned Gold, Siver and Community awards for excellence in collaborating with the young.
THE CHALLENGE
The theme of the Global Youth & News Media Prize for Journalism changes with each edition. This time it was "Youth help local journalism survive," local news media collaborations in which the young help strengthen journalism for neighborhoods, towns, districts, states or regions of a country.
Our 26-member jury was also international and mostly experts working with the partners in this award that will benefit from what they learned.
We chose this theme to fill two gaps we noticed:
1. The many organizations dedicated to helping local news survive needed to have the same knowledge of new developments at the same time. We especially wanted to support this year's Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change in its work this time to look at Local Media Futures and Democratic Health.
2. While recent information about the excellence in the practice of using the young as real newsroom staff is available in the United States, not much had been studied elsewhere.
?????? WHAT THEY SAID ?????
As a final task, winners answered two questions:
Question 1
How would you advise someone about how to get started having youth help cover community news? Think: the most important specific things to do.
Question 2
What can the perspective of young people bring to media organizations? And what have you seen that supports your response?
YOU CAN FIND THEIR RESPONSES HERE
THE RESULTS
IN BRIEF
••••GOLD AWARD••••
(by country, highest scores, most transferable, clearest on impact)
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The Westsider with RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia)
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Stamp Media (Flanders, Belgium)
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Phralipen (Croatia) and the local Roma community
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The Green Line (Toronto, Canada)
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Časoris (Slovenia) and Črni Vrh primary school
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Landshuter Zeitung/Mediengruppe Attenkofer podcast mies keck (Landshut, Germany)
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Bay City News Foundation with Contra Costa Youth Journalism (California, USA)
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The Spotlight News with The University at Albany (New York State, USA)
••••SILVER AWARD••••
(by country, next level on score, transferability and clarity of impact)
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Casa de Nadie (Cochabamba, Bolivia)
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Nyugat.hu (Nyugat region,Hungary)
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Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (Lagos, Nigeria)
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Univerzitetski Odjek (Novi Sad,Serbia)
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Orkonerei FM Radio (rural northern , Tanzania)
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The Jersey Bee (New Jersey, USA)
••••COMMUNITY AWARD••••
(by country, cases showing potential for community impact)
-
Daily News (Gaborone, Botswana)
-
Thinking Abyss (Thessaloniki, Greece)
-
Kashmir Times (Kashmir, India)
-
Risala Today (Risala, Pakistan)
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SF Channel Bitegeere (Masajja, Uganda)
••••GOLD AWARD••••
EIGHT WINNERS
THE DETAILS IN ORDER BY COUNTRY
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The Westsider with RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia)
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Stamp Media (Flanders, Belgium)
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Phralipen (Croatia) and the local Roma community
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The Green Line (Toronto, Canada)
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Časoris (Slovenia) and Črni Vrh primary school
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Landshuter Zeitung/Mediengruppe Attenkofer podcast mies keck (Landshut, Germany)
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Bay City News Foundation with Contra Costa Youth Journalism (California, USA)
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The Spotlight News with The University at Albany (New York State, USA)
••••••••••
AUSTRALIA
THE WESTSIDEr With rmIT UNIVErSITY JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Westsider was founded in 2014 as a nonprofit independent monthly community newspaper to serve the western suburbs of Melbourne. In the run-up to 2024 local elections, it assigned 72 first year journalism students from RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) to contact and interview candidates based on questions gleaned from the community for a special print and online supplement. The Westsider got $AUS 6000 (about 3,400 pounds) from the Local and Independent News Association (LINA) to cover design, layout and printing.
THE IMPACT
After the print supplement appeared, candidates who refused to be interviewed by students asked to be part of the project and were interviewed and then included in the digital version. Digital figures rose markedly over those of a typical edition: views (251.2%), engagement (332.3%) and first-time visits (142.4%).
THE JURY SAID
This is a model with basic but highly significant impact and is easily replicable across geographies and political contexts. Nothing overly complicated, just textbook local crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, reporting. One would not have to use journalism students, thus introducing nonspecialists to some journalistic basics: cold-call contacting and interviewing.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - AUSTRALIA - WESTSIDER-OK.pd
The sites:
https://thewestsider.com.au/category/2024-election-special/
https://thewestsider.com.au/author/rmit-journalism-students/
BELGIUM
STAMP MEDIA
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
StampMedia was founded in 2008 as a newsroom run by young people ages 16 to 26. It emerged in reaction to mainstream news media in the Flanders region of Belgium both underrepresenting and misrepresenting the young. Youth are in charge and decide which topics, framing, and stories they will produce. Professional media makers help with some guidance. StampMedia a non-profit with governmental funding. This is thanks to a strong reputation and good results over 15+ years that secured long-term funding from the Youth Department of Flanders.
THE IMPACT
Each year, StampMedia produces 450 publications from its more than 150 youth reporters. Every year, 65% of the news content made by that team is also published on mainstream or niche news platforms in Flanders and Brussels.
THE JURY SAID
This project shows how local news media produced by youth can create a platform that successfully reaches a young public as well as a wider local audience. This creates a win-win situation as established media also learn about a group they find hard to reach.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - BELGIUM - STAMP MEDIA.pdf
The site: https://www.stampmedia.be/
CANADA
THE GREEN LINE
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Green Line is a hyperlocal, community-driven, and solutions-focused news outlet founded in 2022 to serve Toronto, Canada. In 2024, it partnered with Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) to launch a community newsroom in Alexandra Park, training local youth to produce video profiles and articles that spotlight Market 707 vendors and neighborhood businesses. Eleven youth participants were engaged over a 6-month pilot period. The project also included two large scale events that featured free food vouchers, live music, and games. The partnership was funded through the centre, which received a $CAD 50,000 grant from the City of Toronto’s Main Street Innovation Fund.
THE IMPACT
They collaborated with 10 local vendors for catering and engagement. 63% of vendors reported increased revenue compared to last year, while 25% of vendors reported a notable increase in revenue compared to last year. They conducted 247 surveys at the engagement outpost to understand the information needs of local residents. 50 community members attended a launch event at Market 707 and 110 community members attended an event by them for main street animation. They delivered 7 workshops and 28 check-in and coaching sessions. 11 articles and 11 videos were produced by youth.
THE JURY SAID
The Market 707 project demonstrates an innovative "Civic Partnerships Model" that directly supports local economic development while training youth in media skills. By embedding a community newsroom within a social enterprise market and having youth produce profiles of local businesses, they directly contributed to increased vendor revenue (63% reported increases) and main street vibrancy. It also helped build trust and community with people, which goes a long way, especially in journalism, and can morph next into financial support by vendors for The Green Line itself.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - CANADA - The Green Line2 .pdf
The site: https://thegreenline.to/
CROATIA
PHRALIPEN
AND THE LOCAL ROMA COMMUNITY
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Phralipen, a leading minority media news platform based in Croatia, has been continuously collaborating with the Youth Roma Congress (a youth initiative) since 2017 through both a web portal and a printed publication issued 4 times a year. Members of the Congress participate in Phralipen as columnists, editorial writers, translators, content creators, and members of the long-term strategic planning team. Since Phralipen is a minority media outlet, it is primarily funded through Zagreb local and Croatian public and private grant competitions.
THE IMPACT
The project was selected for the Barvalipe Academy in the field of media and information by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture in 2018. It has initiated multiple programs, including the narrative-journalistic story collection “Romanipe - From the Shadows into the Light,” which was recognized by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media as a valuable literary work. This recognition made it available in public libraries across the country. The project gained the trust of the Roma community, which is reflected in their growing readership: the printed magazine went from having 800 to 1,500 copies distributed across the region and Europe. Phralipen has been one of the few media outlets to have the quality of their investigative journalism acknowledged by the Croatian Agency for Electronic Media every year since the launch of the public call. Plus, year after year, the number of interested partners seeking long-term collaboration continues to grow.
THE JURY SAID
Most in-depth collaboration yet between a youth organization and media outlet, offering a powerful example of participatory journalism, amplifying the voices of young Roma and addressing misrepresentation in mainstream media. Their work embodies a true value of journalism : giving voice to the unheard and challenging social biases through authentic, community-rooted storytelling.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - CROATIA - PHRALIPEN OK.pdf
The site: https://phralipen.hr/en/news/
GERMANY
Landshuter ZEITUNG
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Landschuter Zeitung/Attenkofer Media launched the mies keck project, “What It Feels Like to Be Young in Landshut” in May 2025. It includes 8 podcast episodes and a print series. Each episode has been made available on all major podcast platforms, and print articles summarize them on the day of release. Subsequent weekend editions connect thematically to the podcast, which is based on independent research. Through the project, the hosts and authors (22-year-old Laura Mies and 23-year-old Matthias Keck) feature different guests and voices, portraying complex characters, taking their microphones into immersive scenes, and observing social microcosms in Landshut. The local foreign language school refinances the production as an advertising customer, and in return the hosts mention the institution at the beginning of each podcast episode.
THE IMPACT
Within the first weeks after the podcast's launch, views on their Instagram increased by approximately 80%. Overall, they have reached 176% more accounts, 60% of which fell within their core demographic: 18- to 34-year-olds. The effect of the project on the target demographic has been noticed by others: a local foreign language school is refinancing the production as an advertising customer.
THE JURY SAID
Mies keck is a masterfully executed, deeply authentic multimedia project that redefines what local youth journalism can be. Through personal anecdotes, local storytelling, and topics that resonate with diverse youth communities, it offers a powerful and authentic reflection of young people’s concerns today.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - GERMANY - LANDSHUTER ZEITUNG copy.pdf
The sites:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUirIPW-T9dTHa9n1VG7bIpzzKJgaI3UG (you can generate automaric English subtitles)
and
https://nextcloud.idowa.de/s/gA25Qg4bt2pG6wf?dir=/&editing=false&openfile=true ((summaris of the podcasts)
Coverage:
https://www.idowa.de/regionen/landshut/landshut/auszeichnung-fuer-jugend-podcast-mies-keck-der-landshuter-zeitung-art-354362
SLOVENIA
ČASORIS and Črni Vrh primary school
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Časoris, an award-winning online newspaper for children located in Slovenia, collaborated with pupils from a rural primary school to explore journalism’s role in their community as part of a wider mentoring initiative. Through an European Union funded project called YoCoJoin, five students from Črni Vrh Primary School became reporters themselves, investigating the future of their community’s ski slope, which is threatened by climate change and for which the local community has no alternative plan. Časoris launched the mentoring programme in response to the decline of local journalism in rural Slovenia and the fact that children’s voices are rarely heard there.
THE IMPACT
The youth-created article received 150 views, including 118 active users. Časoris also saw a significant increase in media trust: pre-programme the trust in media among the children was 36% and afterwards it was 91%. The project also strengthened Časoris’ school partnerships, expanded its network of young contributors, and boosted classroom use and engagement, especially in underserved areas.
THE JURY SAID
It was impressive how the organization made the leap from producing news about children to also involving them by teaching them journalism. Časoris effectively demonstrates how a youth-focused online newspaper can empower young reporters in rural areas and build media trust. An effective example of 'civic journalism' in the primary school sphere. This model of a model of locally integrated media education is quite replicable with local news entities and children around the world.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - SLOVENIA - CASORIS.pdf
The site: https://casoris.si/english/
UNITED STATES
BAY CITY NEWS FOUNDATION
with CONTRA COSTA YOUTH JOURNALISM
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Contra Coast Youth Journalism program provides journalism training to secondary school students from underserved school districts in Contra Costa County, California. The program teaches these students journalism basics and publishes their work on CCSpin.net and LocalNewsMatters.org, the public facing news site of the Bay City News Foundation. They received fiscal sponsorship from Bay City News Foundation and received additional support from local donors and grants. The Bay City News Foundation serves the San Francisco Bay Area via their website (LocalNewsMatters.org).
THE IMPACT
They have published over 80 stories since launching in 2024, with reprints in East Bay Times and other major outlets. They were invited to cover the Lesher NewsMakers speaker program. Participants are required to complete at least four published stories. Students used their CCYJ portfolios in college/internship applications. Their work increased confidence and civic engagement reported in post-program surveys. The collaboration additionally expanded Bay City News Foundation’s reach, relevance, and visibility while cultivating diverse talent for journalism’s future.
THE JURY SAID
The Contra Costa Youth Journalism program is a strong model for empowering secondary school students from underserved districts to fill local news gaps and increase diversity in journalism. by training them in journalism fundamentals. The clear connection between the work that the young people did and the opportunities to publish in major publications in the area certainly speaks to ways that these young people can help fill local news gaps. The project shows a great combination of education, access, and community empowerment. The 'remote-first' model reduces barriers to entry and can easily be extended to other counties
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - USA - CONTRA COSTA YOUTH JOURNALISM.pdf
The site: https://ccspin.net/about/
UNITED STATES
THE SPOTLIGHT NewS with
thE UNIVErsIty At ALBANY
•••• GOLD AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Seven University of Albany students reported regularly (plus four more occasionally) on the towns surrounding the university, lending a boost to the local news outlet The Spotlight News, now down to two reporters. They interviewed officials, talked to strangers, dodged protestors, and combed through municipal budgets and developer plans.
THE IMPACT
Work by one student helped Spotlight News place third in the New York Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest for coverage of the arts. 2 students secured internships with local news outlets because of their work. Student success also helped them win a $10,000 grant from the university to expand the local news initiative across disciplines on campus to encourage greater civic participation and community involvement. It also generated interest from the university marketing department to produce a video of the partnership. Students published more than 3 dozen stories.
THE JURY SAID
The collaboration between the University at Albany and Spotlight News provides a compelling example of how journalism students can directly bolster a struggling local news outlet. The students' extensive reporting on local government and community life, leading to over three dozen published stories and an award for arts coverage, clearly demonstrates a significant impact on local news coverage and quality. The "coach, not teacher" approach and the mutual trust established with the newsroom enhance adaptability, and the secured grant for expansion further validates the model's potential. It’s a stellar example of how to stimulate local journalism through meaningful youth involvement.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - USA - SPOTLIGHT NEWS.pdf
Earlier coverage about the project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgp-b65G3FY
••••SILVER AWARD••••
SIX WINNERS
THE DETAILS IN ORDER BY COUNTRY
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Casa de Nadie (Cochabamba, Bolivia)
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Nyugat.hu (Nyugat region,Hungary)
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Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (Lagos, Nigeria)
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Univerzitetski Odjek (Novi Sad,Serbia)
-
Orkonerei FM Radio (rural northern , Tanzania)
-
The Jersey Bee (New Jersey, USA)
•••••••••••
BOLIVIA
CASA DE NADIE
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Casa de Nadie is a magazine that publishes opinion articles, reports, and photographic and audiovisual essays on current affairs, by and for young Bolivians. It was founded in March 2024 in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Casa de Nadie is a collaboration with a growing network of writers, mostly young people under 24 years old, that is developing youth talent while also revitalizing Bolivia's media ecosystem with fresh perspectives and young audiences. Casa de Nadie has received funding for specialized reports from organizations such as: Oxfam, IPDRS (Institute for Rural Development of South America), and Fundación Construir, in addition to mentorship and incubation from Labu and Red Antenna.
THE IMPACT
Young collaborators have gained recognition and expanded their opportunities in the job market. Meanwhile, the media outlet saw an 85% increase in 18- to 30-year-old readers over 12 months, gained 150 new recurring readers in this segment, and experienced 200% growth in Instagram/TikTok followers. They also secured 15,000 bolivianos in institutional funding over 18 months, have maintained partnership agreements with 5 funding organizations, and saw 45% growth in website traffic, as well as a 300% increase in social media engagement.
THE JURY SAID
Casa de Nadie is a standout initiative combining youth-led journalism, mentorship, and civic impact. It represents a lean and innovative model of digital media that, in just a few months, has been able to revolutionize the Bolivian landscape thanks to young columnists and reporters under 24. Its approach can help even more local entities think about how they do things.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - BOLIVIA - CASA DE NADIE.pdf
The site: https://revistacasadenadie.com/
HUNGARY
NYUGAT.HU
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Nyugat.hu, the largest and oldest independent news portal in Hungary outside Budapest, has regularly featured young people and reported on events affecting or being held by them. They have launched several internship and mentoring programmes for young people. One of the most important is the Transparency International’s mentoring programme they participate in every year, which involves an experienced journalist from their newsroom helping a young person produce an investigative article. They have participated several times in the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung internship programme, they involve young people in the production of podcasts, and they launched a video-making internship programme in 2024 for young people studying in Budapest. They have even run their own traineeship programmes, enabling young people from local secondary schools/universities to practice journalism. Two years ago they joined the Youth Community Journalism Initiative, and in the first half of the programme trained 25 young people. Afterwards, 7 selected young people produced text/video content with mentors’ help. As they are a small newsroom with very limited financial resources they have tried, where they can, to make do with grant money. The video-making internship programme was co-financed by the Ökotárs Foundation and the Youth Community Journalism Initiative was made possible with the support of the European Union.
THE IMPACT
Overall, Nyugat.hu maintains a daily audience of 40,000 to 60,000 unique visitors, and content created with or about young people consistently performs above average in terms of reach and engagement. This younger readership has also increased our attractiveness to advertisers and donors, who see clear potential in a cross-generational audience. Over the past five years, more than 30 young people have taken part in the internship, mentoring, or community journalism programmes. Several of them have since found jobs in national media outlets, while a half dozen continue to contribute as freelancers for Nyugat.hu. Its mentored journalist was the youngest ever winner of Transparency International Hungary’s investigative journalism competition, and two articles produced within the mentoring scheme won first prize (2019 and 2021). Through the Youth Community Journalism Initiative, young participants have already produced 50+ articles, videos, and photo galleries, reaching tens of thousands of readers and viewers.
THE JURY SAID
Nyugat.hu demonstrates how a small local newsroom can regenerate itself by systematically investing in the younger generation: through multi-year mentoring programmes. The collaboration with international organizations is highly commendable, enabling them to engage youth in meaningful journalism while securing sustainable support. And they state the challenge very well: “The difficulty [in] the training and mentoring of young people takes human resources from content production … [and] Content about the younger generation does not require extra resources, but it does require awareness, attention and preparation.”
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - HUNGARY - NYUGAT.pdf
The site: https://www.nyugat.hu/
NIGERIA
CABLE NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, a public service entity, launched a journalism programme that identifies and trains fresh graduates from Nigerian universities, turning them into committed and award-winning reporters via hands-on newsroom experience, legal support, and editorial guidance. They sustain the programme through strategic planning and funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and other partners committed to independent journalism in Nigeria.
THE IMPACT
Their fellows have won national and international awards, publishing thousands of impactful stories. They reach more than 1.4 million visitors every month through their website. They engage over 2 million followers across X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, with their content consistently generating over 5 million monthly impressions. They built Nigeria’s first news app with disability inclusion embedded, and through it, have reached tens of thousands of people.
THE JURY SAID
The Cable’s entry clearly demonstrates a well-structured, impact-driven journalism fellowship that addresses critical challenges in Nigeria’s media landscape. It highlights impressive outcomes, including award-winning alumni, career advancement, and substantial audience reach, supported by strong partnerships and strategic funding. Overall, it’s a robust, inspiring model with strong potential for replication and scale
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - NIGERIA - Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation II .pdf
The site: https://www.cablefoundation.org/
SERBIA
UNIVERZITETSKI ODJEK
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Univerzitetski Odjek is a student media outlet that tackles topics important to young people in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia. In October 2024 the current editorial team took over Univerzitetski Odjek from the previous generation and rebuilt the structure with the main point still being to inform youth. However, two months later, mass student-led protests and faculty blockades began and they have since been mostly devoted to reporting on it, mainly via social media. The editorial team consists of seventeen undergrad students .As yet ( 4 September 2025) they have no resources or funding.
THE IMPACT
Univerzitetski Odjek’s followers on Instagram have grown from about 600 in October 2024 to 4,850 as of August 2025. Statistically their views have risen over 950%. This January, they also created a TikTok account, which now has 900 followers, despite it not being the main platform of communication. During the past seven months they have become an address even for known media outlets to search and/or check information as Univerzitetski Odjek is run by students themselves.
THE JURY SAID
Univerzitetski Odjek demonstrates admirable dedication to providing professional and unbiased reporting from a student perspective, especially during mass student-led protests. Their significant growth in Instagram followers and broader audience reach highlight their impact as a reliable source of information, even attracting attention from other media outlets. They cover an important subject at a critical moment that leverages creativity and innovation in formats. Despite no funding and volunteer-only staff, the outlet became a trusted source for students and older audiences alike. The protests as a subject matter makes their journalism more timely and impactful.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - SERBIA - Univerzitetski Odjek.pdf
The site: https://www.univerzitetskiodjek.com/
The overview video: [00:00:58]
TANZANIA
ORKONEREI FM RADIO
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Orkonerei FM Radio launched a collaboration with the youth in early 2024 through the “Nijuze” radio program with the goal of engaging young people in local governance, environmental awareness, economic resilience, and human rights. They recruited youth through schools, youth groups, and local networks, training them in radio production, interviewing, scripting, and live reporting. The collaboration was internally supported by Orkonerei FM with limited external support. Most youth worked voluntarily while some were supported with transport and lunch stipends.
THE IMPACT
More than 50 youth have been directly involved in the collaboration since February 2024. Nijuze listenership grew across Simanjiro, reaching approximately 300,000 people. Plus, over 10 community leaders invited the youth to forums after hearing their voices on air.
THE JURY SAID
It’s fantastic to see a radio program and project - radio program in early 2024 to empower youth (ages 17-28) by involving them in discussions about local governance, environmental awareness, economic resilience, and human rights. This radio program shows much promise because it's practical and scaling properly. Expanding to podcast and TikTok makes sense. The program's success in prompting community leaders to invite youth to forums after hearing their voices on air highlights a direct influence on local decision-making. Their "start with what you have" and "trust youth with the mic" advice, along with the plan for digital expansion, makes this model adaptable for other community radio stations. The Nijuze Show demonstrates how a small provincial radio station can become a platform for youth participation and a tool for local accountability.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - TANZANIA - ORKONEREI-FM-RADIO.pdf
The site: https://radiotadio.co.tz/orkonereifm/
UNITED STATES
THE JERSEY BEE
•••• SILVER AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Jersey Bee, a non-profit public service news provider, was launched in April 2020 to respond to a need for local news and information amidst the pandemic. It now serves 12 towns and cities in Northern New Jersey. They hosted a Youth Media Workshop where nine students from various Newark, N.J. high schools participated, learning the basics of journalism and engaging with guest speakers and journalists. They brainstormed on how to create a voting guide for 16 and 17 year olds. Their content went online and into a zine voter guide for students.
THE IMPACT
They distributed 1,000 zines through schools, libraries, events, and more. The Jersey Bee was recognized by The Gem Project, a local youth empowerment nonprofit, for working with high school students to produce this guide. Working directly with local students opened new doors to schools, families, and civic partners for the organization. The workshop aided in making a stronger case for funding. Recognition from The Gem Project and Rutgers University also validated their work and built credibility that attracts institutional support and local distribution channels.
THE JURY SAID
By having students create a voter guide (zine) for their peers, the project empowers youth and addresses a critical civic information need, especially given the historically low voter turnout in these elections. The project's explicit aim to strengthen the newsroom's survival through community trust, new talent pipelines, and a stronger case for funding makes it highly adaptable and sustainable.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - USA - THE JERSEY BEE
The site: https://jerseybee.org/
••••COMMUNITY AWARD••••
FIVE WINNERS
cases showing potential for community impact
THE DETAILS IN ORDER BY COUNTRY
-
Daily News (Gaborone, Botswana)
-
Thinking Abyss (Thessaloniki, Greece)
-
Kashmir Times (Kashmir)
-
Risala Today (Risala, Pakistan)
-
SF Channel Bitegeere (Masajja, Uganda)
•••••••••
BOTSWANA
DAILY NEWS
•••• COMMUNITY AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Daily News, an English language newspaper published in Gaborone, Botswana, collaborated with final-year broadcast journalism students attending Limkokwing University from November-February to bridge newsroom gaps, invigorate storytelling, and guarantee consistent content production. The students contributed original reporting across platforms, and were mentored by a reporter or editor of the publication. The collaboration was resource-light, using existing infrastructure. Students used their own or school-supplied equipment and did not have stipends.
THE IMPACT
The students had their work published in Daily News as well as on Daily News’ Facebook page, which has upwards of 50k followers. Thato Setlhare, one of the interns, published the story “From scrap-metals to masterpieces,” which trended in their Arts & Culture section. The collaboration also benefited Daily News, filling coverage gaps across rural regions, boosting content volume and local engagement, and reaffirming the value of youth energy in content creation.
THE JURY SAID
An excellent example of how established news organisations can expand their impact and meaningfully engage youth by creating opportunities for university students, a low-cost, high-impact approach that could be easily adapted by others. The collaboration offers a low-cost, replicable model for newsrooms to address content gaps and invigorate storytelling.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - BOTSWANA - DAILY NEWS .pdf
The site: https://dailynews.gov.bw/ (not secure))
KASHMIR
KASHMIR TIMES
•••• COMMUNITY AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
Kashmir Times, an independent multi-media digital platform that bypasses censorship in Kashmir, is working with young reporters to combat erasure. Independent media in the area faces censorship and authentic news sources have vanished, leaving young journalists no platforms. So, they stepped in to give them one in the form of Media Revival, a web news platform that promotes youth participation and showcases youth voices while working with journalism student interns and early career professionals. They generate revenue from donor support (individual donations, foundation grants, diaspora membership), sales (YouTube/social media revenue, advertisements, premium archive membership), fees for service (expert consultancy for media rights groups and academia, crisis journalism training, Kashmir conflict & journalism masterclasses), and paid collaborations/partnerships (media syndication, co-produced investigations, cultural heritage showcases, academic research, policy and human rights documentation).
THE IMPACT
In 2024 they generated $48,000 in revenue. Their sample growth chart depicts a growing rate of 80%. At the time of their submitting this, they received 11.4k clicks over the span of 28 days. In the 28 days prior to this, they received 6.58k clicks. They have been gaining traction and trust, allowing them to increase their content by adding New & Data Analysis, Soft Stories, Art & Culture Lens, Citizen Reporters, Solution Journalism, Expert Interviews, and 6-8 monthly investigations/Community Narratives.
THE JURY SAID
This entry addresses critical challenges to independent journalism in Kashmir by empowering young journalists to deliver authentic, censored-free news. Kashmir Times offers a vital platform for young journalists in a region facing significant censorship, providing a space to amplify marginalized voices and preserve truth. The focus on mentoring journalism students and early career professionals (ages 20-25) is crucial for the future of independent journalism in Kashmir.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - KASHMIR TIMES.pdf
The site: https://kashmirtimes.com/
GREECE
THINKING ABYSS
•••• COMMUNITY AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Thinking Abyss initiative empowers and cultivates young journalists through workshops, editorial mentorship, regional collaborations, and multimedia journalism. A key project was #ThessVote held four months before local municipal elections in Greece. They invited all candidates (six accepted) to be interviewed by School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki students on issues relevant to Gen Z. A #SetTheAgenda awareness campaign informed citizens about pressing EU issues and linked them to local concerns. A correspondent interviewed four Members of the European Parliament from Greece’s largest parties, and the team ran two school trainings on the importance of elections. A key partner in their growth has been the Peace Journalism Lab, School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which provided major financial support for the printing of their second magazine (2,500 euros) and has actively backed their mission to produce high-quality, independent journalism. They also benefited from funding from the European Union for their training in Athens, by expanding their editorial and outreach skills.
THE IMPACT
The content they produced for the #ThessVote event received 3,700 views on YouTube, 8,000 views on TikTok, and there were 10,000 showings of the posts on Instagram. The content they produced from the #SetTheAgenda campaign received 13,000 showing on Instagram and 29,000 views on Instagram and TikTok reels. The first magazine they produced sold 400 copies at 5.90 euros each, and produced a gain of 300+ followers on Instagram. Since producing their second magazine, they have appeared in many articles of national magazines, news sites, and in national TV. Sales continue.
THE JURY SAID
Thinking Abyss is an ambitious and energetic youth-driven media initiative that demonstrates genuine passion and impressive scope, spanning print, podcasts, social media, and institutional collaborations to engage Gen Z in civic and political issues.The "#ThessVote" initiative is a strong example of local engagement, aiming to raise awareness among young people about urban issues and encourage voting. While the project has a broad scope, the specific local examples and the commitment to cultivating young journalists and making credibility appealing are positive.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - GREECE2 - Thinking Abyss2.pdf
The site: https://www.thinkingabyss.com/
UGANDA
Channel Bitegeere
•••• COMMUNITY AWARD ••••
WHAT THEY DID
The Sserumaga Foundation created SF Channel Bitegeere, a YouTube-based media outlet where young creatives produce news, interviews, cultural features, talent showcases, and community updates in Luganda and English. Twenty-five youth volunteers were trained in video-production, scripting, and digital storytelling. They began this initiative in response to the growing disconnect between Masajja youth and their identity, the lack of representation of Masajja grassroots voices in mainstream media, and the high youth unemployment and underutilized talent in storytelling and digital media in the Masajja community. The project is self-funded through small grants, Sserumaga Foundation income, and local donations. They also just started YouTube monetization.
THE IMPACT
On YouTube they have 1,200+ subscribers and 80,000+ views, with their top video, “Relationship Puzzle Solved,” garnering 6.6k views. 12 of the 25 youth volunteers have secured freelance gigs with local media or started their own channels. In terms of organizational impact, new funding partnerships are being explored due to visibility and the platform has helped to preserve their cultures and increased their engagement from diaspora.
THE JURY SAID
What sets this project apart is its approach to innovation: young people in Masajja are not just passive participants — they take on active roles as content creators, hosts, directors, and editors. Using low-cost, high-impact digital tools, the project reaches audiences both online and offline, making it accessible and community-centered. This is a good model for youth local engagement. Producing content through YouTube is a smart strategy and the fact that they find opportunities to present the stories through flash drives and screening at local events indicates they understand the importance of reaching their audience.
WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE
The entry: JURY ENTRY - JOURNALISM - UGANDA - SSERUMAGA FOUNDATION FOR SF CHANNEL BITEGEERE.pdf
The site :
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bitegeere
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