Zurich Journalism Prize 2012 awarded
On May 23, the ceremony for the Zurich Journalism Award took place at the Casino Theater in Winterthur. Four outstanding works were honored.
This year's Zurich Journalism Prize goes to Gion Mathias Cavelty in the newspaper category, Daniel Ammann and Julia Hofer in the magazine category and Joel Bedetti in the young talent category. The jury selected the award-winning works from almost 150 entries. Tobias Trevisan, the managing director of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, who has excellent connections in the Swiss publishing landscape, gave the keynote speech.
At the award ceremony, Andrea Masüger, President of the Foundation Board, announced changes that will apply from 2013. Texts that have only been published online will now also be eligible for an award. The previous prize categories will be abolished and in future a maximum of three prizes will be awarded, as well as a prize for the overall work. According to Masüger, this will "increase the flexibility of the jury's work and the selection of the best will not be restricted by category requirements".
Appreciations of the jury
This year's Zurich Journalism Prize, which is awarded in the newspaper, magazine and young talent categories, focuses on the quality of media work and the personal commitment of journalists. "In Gion Mathias Cavelty's text, the rebirth of the old-school opera reporter takes place in a contemporary setting," said jury member Marco Meier in his laudatory speech. "This legendary genre shines brilliantly once again in the reportage and finds its own independent form. High art is fun here," said Meier in recognition of the award winner.
Jury member Margrit Sprecher praised Julia Hofer: "She does what far too few media professionals do: she explores the seemingly familiar, her immediate surroundings. And comes across far more exotic things than some world travelers. It's not just the why that the jury liked. It's also the how."
"Daniel Ammann stayed on the Holenweger case for seven years with his research," recognized laudator Alain Zucker. "We are paying tribute to a journalist who unwaveringly, independently and skillfully uncovered gross abuses at the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland. Without him, they might never have come to light."
"What makes a good story? It has to tell something new, it has to tell it cleverly and it should be well written," says jury member Susan Boos. "Joel Bedetti has written a wonderful portrait of Meinhard von Seckendorff - the baron who studied at the University of Zurich for 90 semesters," she said in her laudatory speech.
> Brochure on the 2012 award ceremony (PDF)
About the Zurich Journalism Prize
The purpose of the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation, established by the Zurich Press Association, is to make a concrete contribution to the promotion of journalistic quality through the announcement and awarding of a prize. The awarding of prizes for outstanding work is intended to encourage journalists to master their difficult task at a high level in terms of both content and style and to create journalistic highlights that will be remembered beyond the day. Since 1981, works published in the cantons of Zurich and Schaffhausen or written by authors who mainly work in these cantons have been assessed by an independent jury. It selects the prizewinners. The members of the jury are Fredy Gsteiger (President), Susan Boos, Marco Meier, Margrit Sprecher and Alain Zucker. The Foundation Board is made up of Andrea Masüger (President), Esther Girsberger, Kaspar Loeb and David Strohm.
