Quality journalism is of vital importance to healthy democracies, especially in a time when information is omnipresent. Unfortunately, because of a transforming and pressured market, quality has become increasingly difficult to maintain.
To help counter the effects of these transformations was one of the reasons the European Press Prize was envisioned. Formed by seven independent European foundations that all have strong media connections, all of which count excellence and public service as part of their collective challenge.
The aim is simple: To salute and encourage journalism of the highest quality wherever it can be found in our continent. Journalists from all 47 countries of Europe as defined by Council of Europe membership are eligible to enter their work.
In 2012 in De Balie in Amsterdam, the first annual award ceremony was held. Since then, the European Press Prize has become a symbol for journalists and their readers, showing that the role of brave journalists and excellent articles is vital in forming healthy societies.
The chairman of the judging panel is Sir Harold Evans, the iconic former editor of the Sunday Times, and the preparatory committee, sifting all entries, is chaired by Peter Preston, former editor of the Guardian and co-director of the Foundation.
Preston says simply:
The Prize has grown in five years to attract many hundreds of entries from every corner of Europe, growing year by year. There’s a quality and enterprise there that very few of us dared hope to find. These prizes show, just as clearly as America’s Pulitzers, the strength and depth of journalism that crosses all borders. It’s a growing force you can test at the click of a button to www.europeanpressprize.com.
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