The True Story Award

Job Description

The first globally-oriented journalism prize aims to set an example to motivate journalists all over the world and to strengthen them in their work. In the 21st century, journalism’s role as an indispensable critical institution for democracy is continually and everywhere being put to the test: freedom of the press is limited, the media is politically controlled, economically instrumentalised, and digitally fragmented. The price for this is high: in many places the loss of a plural and independent representation of events or developments in the media is impacting upon the formation of free and critical opinion. This makes courageous and innovative reporters all the more important, in all societies and countries. It is for them that the True Story Award was created.

The central idea of the prize is to supplement and broaden the predominantly Western view of the world with other perspectives. Due to the nature of media coverage, readers in North America and Europe have a view of the world different to those in the Arab world, Africa and Asia. The prize encourages the broadening of our field of vision through the voices of reporters from different countries.

The True Story Award has no editorial, economic or ideological agenda. It simply hopes to recognise first-class journalism.

Award

The True Story Award is the first global journalism prize. Its aim is to make reporters’ voices known beyond the borders of their home countries, and in doing so to increase the diversity of perspectives offered in the media. The True Story Award will be conferred by an independent foundation and honours reporters writing in 10 languages, who have distinguished themselves by the depth of their research, the quality of their journalism and its social relevance. 45 jury members from 29 countries will select the 36 best texts of the year and then select the three winners. They will receive 20 000 US$ each in prize money, while all the 36 nominees (one per text) will be invited to the True Story Festival in Bern, Switzerland.

The True Story Award is open to all journalists anywhere in the world who produce written reportage. Works can be submitted in the following 10 languages:

Works written in other languages can be submitted in three categories:

Europe
World I
World II

Texts in these categories can be entered in English (World II also in Hindi) and go directly to the jury.
Submissions in the original language must include a summary in English of at least 400 words. In this case, native-speaking readers from our network will review the original text and decide on a translation into English for evaluation by the jury.

The True Story Award honours published texts that are characterised by the fact that they are a narrative account of real events, have been researched on location and are based on rigorously researched facts. Pure essays, biographies and historical reconstructions are ineligible (although of course something of these can be present in all reportage). The texts’ length should be between 3 000 and 17 000 words. Der True Story Award is presented in these three categories:

True Story Award Research This award recognises the high quality of journalistic research. The volume of research, the time invested and the country-specific circumstances are taken into account.

True Story Award Storytelling This award recognises reporters writing talent. The journalistic craft, truthfulness and narrative elegance are taken into account.

True Story Award Impact This award recognises the impact of reportage. The country-specific relevance of the text and its possible influence on society, politics and economy are taken into account.

Submissions are open until October 22, 2024. Texts published in print or online between 1.10.2023 and 30.9.2024 are eligible. They may have been published in daily or weekly newspapers, magazines or on websites. Re-published texts, books and manuscripts are ineligible.

Texts must be submitted online. Then the three best texts per language/region will be selected by the relevant jury by the end of 2024. There are 12 language/region juries in all: one for each of the 9 languages represented, and three for texts from other languages translated into English.

Texts may be submitted by their authors or the editor.
The submission deadline is Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 12 pm (noon, CEST).

Prize & Ceremony

The underlying core of the award is the gathering of journalists from all over the world and the exchange with audience in Bern. The 36 nominees selected by the local Jurys (one person per nominated text ) will be invited to present their work at the True Story Festival from June 20 to 22, 2025.

The main jury will then select the three best texts from the 36 nominees, who will be rewarded as follows:

True Story Award Research: 20 000 US$.

True Story Award Storytelling: 20 000 US$. 

True Story Award Impact: 20 000 US$.

The award ceremony will be held as part of a festival on Friday, June 20, 2025, in Bern, Switzerland.

Foundation

The True Story Foundation aims to promote the creation of non-fiction longforms and thus the telling of true stories worldwide. In doing so, it wants to make a contribution to society reaching beyond national borders.

PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION:

The True Story Foundation, based in Bern, Switzerland, supports long form journalism with non-fictional content.

The True Story Foundation organises the True Story Award.

The True Story Foundation may develop other activities aiming to promote independent and high-quality journalism worldwide.

The True Story Foundation does not seek profit and has a purely humanitarian character and does not pursue any commercial purposes. It is tax-exempt for residents of Switzerland.

The organs of the Foundation are the Board of Trustees and the Auditors.

The Board of Trustees entrusts the administration of the True Story Award to a curator.