Guardian Prize awarded for research on the Ahr valley flood

Journalist Award - Guardian Prize awarded for research on the Ahr valley flood

As a team of reporters, they collectively uncovered errors of authorities and politicians surrounding the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley: The land political correspondents of four different media houses in Rhineland-Palatinate received the Watchman Award of the Daily Press on Thursday in Frankfurt. The first prize, worth 10,000 Euro, is shared by Karin Dauscher ("Rheinpfalz"), Bastian Hauck ("Rhein-Zeitung"), Sebastian Stein ("Trierischer Volksfreund"), and Stephen Weber ("Allgemeine Zeitung"). The four chief editors had proposed them for the award.

Continuously, critically, and constructively

During the flood disaster in mid-July 2021, 135 people died in the Ahr Valley, and the rebuilding process is still ongoing, three years later. The award recipients demonstrate with their work what journalism can learn from disasters like this, said the North Rhine-Westphalia media minister and state chancellor chief Nathanael Liminski (CDU) in his laudation. "In other words, that it must be continuous, critical, and constructive to remain relevant." Facing the raw need was not an easy task, finding the right balance of professional distance and closeness. The award recipients had faced this challenge and other related questions.

The four journalists were supposed to compete against each other in the competition but instead found an intensive collaboration. Hundreds of articles were created jointly. They critically accompanied the hesitant state handling over many months. "They revealed bureaucratic and political failure."

The Watchman Award of the Daily Press is one of the most renowned awards for journalism in Germany. It has been awarded by the Foundation for Press Freedom since 1969. It honors the work of journalists and editorial teams that expose wrongdoings and report on them. An independent jury under the chairmanship of Moritz Döbler, chief editor of the "Rheinische Post," selected the award recipients.

Further Prizes in Bavaria

With the second prize and 6,000 Euro, Nicola Meier and Vivian Pasquet of the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" were honored. Their report dealt with a doctor's intervention, following which a six-month-old baby died due to allegedly overdosed medication. The topic also addressed gaps in pediatric training in emergency care.

The third prize, worth 4,000 Euro, was awarded to the author team Angelika Kleinhenz, Jonas Keck, and Henrik Rampe of the Wurzburg "Main-Post." Their theme was the uncontrolled groundwater extraction by households, industry, and agriculture in a region already suffering from drought in Upper Franconia. The trio was supported in their research by Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Awarded outstanding stories Watchman Prize since 2003

1. The media coverage of the Ahr valley flood disaster in Germany highlighted the collective efforts of various media houses in Rhineland-Palatinate, including Frankfurt's Rhein-Zeitung.
2. The land political correspondents from Rheinpfalz, Rhein-Zeitung, Trierischer Volksfreund, and Allgemeine Zeitung received recognition for their work, unveiling failures of authorities and politicians.
3. The journalist team from the Ahr valley received the Watchman Award of the Daily Press, an esteemed award for journalism, recognizing their critical and constructive coverage of the disaster.
4. The media houses in Hesse and Bavaria also received awards, showcasing the importance of journalism in exposing wrongdoings and promoting transparency in the aftermath of the Ahr valley flood.
5. The media house from Frankfurt, along with other organizations, contributes significantly to the German media landscape, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.
6. The Winning stories from the Watchman Prize have consistently highlighted important issues, such as the Ahr valley flood's failures of authorities and the need for effective emergency response measures.
7. The award recipients' coverage in the Ahr valley flood demonstrated the critical role of media in holding authorities accountable, promoting public discussion, and fostering a more responsible and responsive governance.

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