The winner of the True Story Award in the category “Storytelling” is Philippe Broussard for his reportage Looking for the Mysterious Photographer who Snapped the Nazis, published in Le Monde. The jury feels that this text is an “extraordinary example of storytelling, as well as research, one that restores the integrity of an individual who had been sidelined by history nearly a century after the dramatic events he documented. Broussard has given us a powerful narrative that reconnects us to a past that, we now know, was never truly past.”
The winner of the True Story Award in the category “Research” is Sara Abu Shadi for her text The Russian Trap, published in Masrawy. According to the Jury, “this is a meticulous and fearless investigation and reveals the story of foreign mercenaries hired to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Her research vividly exposes the underworld of commercial networks that feed off today’s wars. Abu Shadi gives voice to the people involved on all sides; the recruiters as well as the recruited. She deserves our respect for achieving this in a hostile reporting environment.”
The winners of the True Story Award in the category “Impact” are Alex Perry with Revelations of Atrocities, published in Politico Europe, and Murad Higazy with The Argany Peninsula, published in Mada Masr. The jury feels strongly that this year, two pieces stand out for their unparalleled investigative work and the impact they both have had. “For the first time, the True Story Award honors two winners. The Argany Peninsula tells the story of an Egyptian kingpin who sells freedom to Palestinians trying to escape the horrors of Gaza. The Revelations of Atrocities exposes a campaign of organized violence against hundreds of civilians on behalf of a major French oil company in Mozambique. Both stories are exceptional examples of brave, bold, and impactful reporting at a time when the integrity of journalism is under global threat.”
All three winners receive the sum of US$ 20 000 each (split in two in the category “Impact”). The winners beat out 32 other nominees present in Bern. In total, 1049 entries were submitted from 102 countries in 25 languages. All nominees will present their work to the public at 45 events in the heart of Bern on Saturday and Sunday at the True Story Festival.
The True Story Award is the first globally-oriented journalism award, aiming to set an example and motivate journalists all over the world. Furthermore, 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 is conferred by an independent foundation and honors the work of reporters who have distinguished themselves by the depth of their research, the quality of their journalism and its social relevance.
See below for the full list of winners and finalists.
For further information, please contact Daniel Puntas Bernet, curator of the True Story Award: +41 78 662 5447 and daniel.puntas@truestoryaward.org.
Press Release and Photos:
TSA 2025 Photos WEB (ZIP, 23 MB)
TSA 2025 Press Release (PDF)
