![Recipients of the acclaimed 'Documentary' prize presented with their accolade. [Image included]](/en/img/2025/05/17/1485398/jpeg/4-3/1200/75/image-description.webp)
Shining a Light on Injustice: Stern-Preis for Remarkable Reporting
Cost of Stern Award for Documentary on Yezidi Genocide - Recognition for Exposing the Tragedy of Yazidi Massacres
Welcome to the world of journalism!
In the world of Germany's media, the Stern-Preis, formerly known as the Nannen Preis, shines brightly as one of the most esteemed honors for journalists. Named after Henri Nannen, the founder of Stern magazine, this award is a beacon of recognition for investigative work and exceptional reporting, even though it was renamed in 2021 due to Nannen's role in the PR system of the National Socialist era [2][3].
This Year's Winners
This year, the Stern-Preis has shiningly recognized remarkable achievements in journalism.
Documentation: The Plight of the Yazidis
For their groundbreaking film "Bêmal - Heimatlos. 10 Jahre genocide against the Yazidis" (ARD-Mediathek), Duzen Tekkal and David Körzdörfer took home the award in the Documentation category. The film tells the heart-wrenching stories of four pairs of siblings who managed to escape the gruesome genocide against the Yazidi religious minority in northern Iraq, after experiencing immense losses and unbearable suffering [1].
Investigation: Exposing Rape Networks on Telegram
In the Investigation category, Isabell Beer and Isabel Ströh, intrepid reporters from the Funk format "STRG_F", unveiled a dark network of rapists on Telegram. More than 70,000 users exchange information there on how to drug women and inflict sexual violence on them. The jury was shaken by the shocking extent of the abuse and commended the reporters for their courageous work [1].
Photography Story of the Year: The War in Yemen
Dominic Nahr, a photographer from the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, was awarded the prestigious Fotogeschichte des Jahres for his riveting reportage "Sie machen das Land kaputt" (They are destroying the country) on the war between rival Shiite and Sunni militias in Yemen [2].
Local Journalism: Uncovering Misconduct in Gablingen Prison
In the Local category, journalists from the Augsburger Allgemeinen triumphed for their exposé on the misconduct in Gablingen Prison, demonstrating the potential of local journalism in unveiling wrongdoings [1].
A Night to Celebrate Journalism
The 2025 ceremony honored exceptional work from the realm of local investigations to global documentation. The event, held in Hamburg, was commended for its engaging moderation by Atalay and Schmitz, who kept the evening running smoothly and without delays [2]. The Stern-Preis continues to stand proudly as a significant platform for recognizing and celebrating journalistic excellence in Germany.
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/stern-preis-2021-documentary-awards-go-to-yazidi-genocide-and-buchhenwald-memory-culture-contradictions/a-58992917[2] https://www.wdr.de/hochrangig/stern-preis-2021-preistrager-genau-gebaut-3186.html[3] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/meine-stadt/auch-in-berlin-werden-die-preise-fuer-die-gutsten-journalisten-verliehen/26759202.html
- The financial aid provided to Duzen Tekkal and David Körzdörfer for their powerful documentary on the Yazidis will greatly help them produce more such impactful films, assisting in raising awareness about the ongoing genocide against the Yazidi religious minority.
- As the winner of the Photography Story of the Year, Dominic Nahr's coverage of the war in Yemen offers an eye-opening insight into the cultural-travel and general-news aspects of the conflict, encouraging viewers to reflect on the devastating effects of war on peoples' lives.
- The financial aid that the Augsburger Allgemeinen journalists received for their Local Journalism exposé on misconduct in Gablingen Prison could potentially allow them to further investigate the crime-and-justice situation within prisons across Germany, leading to systemic changes and improvements in prison conditions.
