The Council of Europe’s Roma and Travellers Division announces the results of the third edition of the Journalism Excellence Awards “Ethical reporting on Roma and Travellers and combating antigypsyism through the media” (hereafter “Awards”). This initiative is implemented in line with the Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2026 - 2030), which emphasises the role of the media in combating antigypsyism and promoting equality and human dignity. The Awards recognise media contributions that challenge the stigmatisation and discrimination of Roma and Travellers, while bringing forward their human stories and lived experiences.
The jury awarded five participants in the following categories:
Investigative Journalism Award
- Adam CHARLTON, for the work “Is This the Last “Acceptable” Form of Racism? | Beyond Borders”, which denounces the discrimination faced by the Roma community in Britain and the structural challenges they encounter in daily life.
Best Interview Award
- Jana BAUDYSOVA, for the interview “The Congress in London United Roma Around the World, Recalls Its Artistic Director, Journalist, Manager and Activist Tore-Jarl Bielenberg”, which documents the establishment of the First World Romani Congress.
Roma History and Holocaust Remembrance Award
Given the outstanding quality, significance, and strong public value of the submitted works, the jury exceptionally allocated two awards in this category:
- Paula SZEWCZYK, for “We dressed up so as not to look like Roma. When the Germans saw a skirt, they shot immediately”, which sheds light on the extermination of the Polish Roma community by the Nazi, as well as its impunity and absence from institutional narratives and platforms.
- Visnja VISNJIC MILIC, for “Porajmos” - The suffering of the Roma in World War II”, which documents the persecution and genocide of the Roma community in occupied Serbia during World War II, and calls for increased public awareness and institutional memory on the history of the Roma Holocaust.
The Young Journalist Award
- Eftychia SOUFLERI, for her documentary “Roma on TikTok: How Their Life Went Viral”, which explores why Roma communities in Greece have developed a strong presence on TikTok, while remaining largely absent from other social media platforms.
Following careful consideration, the jury decided not to award a prize in the Photojournalism category, taking into account the number of submissions and their overall assessment.
Recognition is grounded in fairness, empathy and respect for human dignity, as reflected through responsible and humane storytelling. The winners of this year’s edition have demonstrated a strong commitment to upholding human rights values and are warmly congratulated for their work.
The Roma and Travellers Division expresses its appreciation to all participants and encourages them to continue their engagement in ethical journalism, as well as to take part in future editions.The Awards ceremony will take place in Strasbourg on 18 June, on the margins of the No Hate Speech Week 2026 and the Second edition of the democracy Hackathon - Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy.
