Deadline: February 28, 2025
Applications are open for the GIJN Global Shining Light Award 2025. Every two years, the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) presents the Global Shining Light Award, a unique award which honors investigative journalism in a developing or transitioning country, done under threat, duress, or in the direst of conditions.
Each year dozens of journalists and media workers are killed – and hundreds more are attacked, imprisoned or threatened – just for doing their job. Many of these violations of free expression occur in developing or emerging countries, and quite often during military conflicts. There are a number of international awards recognizing such attacks on freedom of expression.
But there is another clear trend that emerges in analyses of global attacks on reporters and the media. More and more journalists are being killed, and media outlets attacked, because they are carrying out important efforts in investigative journalism – exposing uncomfortable truths, shining light on systematic corruption, and providing accountability in societies yearning for democracy and development. More journalists are killed each year covering corruption and politics than are killed covering wars, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
On behalf of the global investigative journalism community, GIJN is pleased to recognize and celebrate these courageous investigative journalists and their work.
Categories
There are two award categories:
- Small and Medium Outlets (organizations with staff of 20 or less, including freelancers)
- Large Outlets (organizations with more than 20 staff)
Award
- Top winners will receive an honorary plaque, US$2,500, and a trip to the 2025 Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to accept the award in front of hundreds of their colleagues from around the world.
Eligibility
The journalist, journalism team, or media outlet will have produced independent, investigative reporting, which:
- Originated in and affected a Global South country;
- Was broadcast or published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024;
- Was of an investigative nature;
- Uncovered an issue, wrongdoing, or system of corruption which gravely affected the common good;
- And did so in the face of arrest, imprisonment, violence against them and their families, or threats and intimidation.
Application
The submission deadline is February 28, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
For more information, visit Global Shining Light Award.
