The Werner Holzer Prize, celebrating the pivotal role of foreign correspondents in democracy, was awarded during a ceremony in Frankfurt, coinciding with what would have been the 100th birthday of its namesake, a distinguished reporter. Mayor Mike Josef highlighted the importance of fundamental rights like freedom of speech and press, first established by the Frankfurt Parliament in 1848.
This year’s first prize was awarded to Katja Gloger, a veteran correspondent who has covered Russia since 1989 and accompanied Vladimir Putin during his early presidency. Her recent book, co-authored with Georg Mascolo, critiques Germany’s long-standing Russia policy.
Second prize went to Deutsche Welle journalist Jaafar Abdul Karim, known for his impactful talk show, JaafarTalk, which addresses taboo subjects across the Arab world and in Germany. A research grant was awarded to freelance journalist Luise Land, who is investigating her family’s landholdings in Namibia, reflecting on the legacy of German colonialism.
During the ceremony, Gloger called for increased international coverage in German media, emphasising the necessity of fact-based journalism. She dedicated her award to journalists in exile and her colleagues at Novaya Gazeta, who recently had to close their Moscow newsroom.
Abdul Karim spoke of the challenges journalists face today, including online threats and societal division. He advocated for a form of journalism that encourages dialogue and connects disparate communities. His show has already accumulated over 1.1 billion views in 2026 and maintains a growing community of followers. Abdul Karim stressed the importance of a diverse media landscape that speaks out against racism, antisemitism, and other forms of discrimination.
This article was originally written in German.
