Mariusz Walter Award Winners Revealed!
The first-ever recipients of the Mariusz Walter Award were Katarzyna Kasia from the 19:30 News Magazine, the Orientuj.się team, and Michał Okoński. This prestigious ceremony took place on March 15th at the POLIN Museum.
- I created the Mariusz Walter Award as a token of gratitude from my husband to all the exceptional journalists, both those currently in the field and those just starting their careers. This award is for both the young and those we have known from the media for years," said Bożena Walter during the ceremony. She is not only the creator of the Mariusz Walter Award but also the co-founder of the Bożena and Mariusz Walter Foundation
The Main Award - Media Personality of the Year
The Media Personality of the Year recognizes individuals with exceptional civil and creative courage, who are able to push boundaries through their craftsmanship and creativity. This is an award for both the authority and the debutant.
Katarzyna Kasia, a distinguished columnist, academic, and philosopher, has been recognized as the Media Personality of the Year for her profound philosophical insights into current affairs. Her contributions, which include incisive analyses on TVN24's Szkło Kontaktowe and Nowy Świt on Radio Nowy Świat, alongside the depth and eloquence of her columns in "Newsweek" and "Kultura Liberalna," have been celebrated for their wisdom and nuanced understanding.
The other nominees in this category were: political journalist Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz, nominated for her investigative skills, courage, and uncompromising approach in her articles and videos published in "Gazeta Wyborcza" and on the Wyborcza.pl website; and Radomir Wit, political journalist, parliamentary reporter, host, and creator of the “Kampania Bezkitu” program on TVN24 and the “Sejm Wita” series on the TVN24 GO platform. He was nominated for his persistence and creativity in obtaining responses from politicians, especially during election campaigns, and for engaging the younger generation in meaningful discussions on social and political issues.
Media Highlight of the Year
The Media Highlight of the Year is an award given to the creator or author of a journalistic piece, program, format, or an innovative media product or technology that achieved widespread reach and had a significant impact on reality within the year.
The 19:30 magazine editorial team won in the Media Highlight of the Year category for their preparation, under record time, the pressure of deadlines, societal expectations, and challenging formal conditions, of an alternative to the politicised "Wiadomości." They were also recognized for their efforts to create a professional, objective, and credible news program that fulfils the mission of public media.
The other nominees in this category were: Jakub Sobieniowski, a journalist with Fakty TVN specializing in political and social issues, for his series of reports exposing the use of state institutions and state-owned companies by the Law and Justice party (PiS) to support its electoral campaign; and Katarzyna Włodkowska, a journalist, investigative reporter, and feature writer. She was nominated for her bravery in exposing her professional environment and describing the mobbing within the "Press" magazine's editorial office in her article „W redakcji Andrzeja Skworza "Odliczam. Aż się rozryczysz i wyjdziesz" ("In Andrzej Skworz's Editorial Office: I Count Down. Until You Cry and Leave.").
New Voice in the Media
The New Voice in the Media award celebrates innovative media utilization and a unique voice beyond traditional journalism. It highlights voices that fill voids and broach subjects neglected in mainstream media. These initiatives are often grassroots and developed significantly through interaction with their audience.
The Orientuj.się team, consisting of Aleksandra Walczak, Julia Święch, and Aleksander Lipski, secured the victory in the Fresh Perspective in Media category. They were awarded for establishing Poland’s premier Gen Z-focused political and social platform, which narrates the world to young Instagram and TikTok users, and for their dedication to engaging young voters during election periods.
Other nominees include Maciej Okraszewski, an independent journalist and reporter, creator of the Dział Zagraniczny service, recognized for engaging audiences with international topics that are not typically highlighted in the media headlines and for offering young journalists the opportunity to fund and publish their reports; and Aleksander Hudzik, editor-in-chief of the Mint culture magazine. He was nominated for his unconventional publications on culture, for his determination to showcase ambitious content about art and literature that tend to be overlooked by algorithms.
Sports in the Media
In the Sports in the Media category, Michał Okoński, a journalist and sports columnist for “Tygodnik Powszechny” was honoured for his knowledge, erudition, style, and ability to simplify complex realities. He was recognized for his articles in “Tygodnik Powszechny” and posts on the blog “Futbol jest okrutny” (“Football is cruel”) as well as for his book "Stałe fragmenty” (“Set pieces”), which explores the beautiful and grim aspects of football.
The other nominees in this category were Dariusz Faron, a journalist for Wirtualna Polska and Sportowe Fakty, nominated for his narrative on the human aspect of sports, highlighted by his 2023 reportage book “Życie nie kończy się na mecie” (“Life Doesn’t End at the Finish Line”); and Mikołaj Tyczyński, Klaudia Kowalczyk, and Jakub Jędras, creators of the “Sport do słuchania” (“Sport to Listen To”) broadcast and podcast on Radio Nowy Świat, nominated for their leisurely and accessible discussions on sports, presenting it as an integral part of socio-cultural life.
Sports Media is a category that distinguishes innovative ways of presenting and promoting sports through both traditional and social media. It appreciates journalistic craftsmanship and the ability to view sports from a unique perspective, considering its global, cultural phenomenon.
The Mariusz Walter Award
Launched this year, the Mariusz Walter Award celebrates individuals noted for their creativity, courage, exceptional journalistic craftsmanship blended with intuition, and social empathy. The award will be presented annually for a decade.
Awardees received a statuette — a piece by the esteemed sculptor Tomasz Górnicki, and a cash prize — 100,000 PLN for the Main Award or Media Personality of the Year, and 30,000 PLN each for Media Highlight of the Year, New Voice in the Media, and Sports in the Media categories.
An 18-member Jury, comprising eminent figures from the media, culture, sports, and societal sectors, chose the nominees and awardees. Members include: Edwin Bendyk, Andrzej Bobiński, Kamil Dziubka, Ewa Ewart, Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, Jerzy Jurecki, Grzegorz Kalinowski, Michał Kołodziejczyk, Adam Małysz, Adam Pieczyński, Hanna Rydlewska, Joanna Solska, Agata Szczęśniak, Mariusz Szczygieł, Bożena Walter, Jacek Wasilewski, Paulina Wilk, and Maja Włoszczowska.
