AWoN Practitioners: Winners of Journalist Award and the Amsterdammer of the Year

In a ceremony on 18 June 2024 in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe, five media professionals earned Journalism Excellence Awards for their work on “Ethical Media Reporting on Roma and Combating Racism and Antigypsyism through the Media.”

“This year’s winners send a powerful message to the whole society that Roma people are Europeans,” writes Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of Roma and Travellers Division, Council of Europe, who organised the awards.

Poignant journalism

Anna Alboth won in the category of Global Journalism. She received the award for her reportage “They Never Started Any War,” published in the Polish magazine gazeta.pl, from Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

The jury highlighted that Anna Alboth: “poignantly captures personal testimonies, illustrating the resilience and hopes of Roma individuals amid pervasive racism and violence.”

Severe discrimination

Her article sheds light on the severe discrimination faced by the Roma community in Ukraine and outside of Ukraine, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Russia.

It follows stories from Uzhhorod, where Roma children struggle to access education due to systemic barriers and describes the harsh realities for Roma families living without basic necessities and legal documentation, before and after Russian full scale invasion. It shows double standards in treatment of refugees in Europe but also brings some solutions.

Media, minorities and migration

“This award means the world to me. It is not just a journalistic recognition; it combines all the fields that are deeply important to me: media, minorities, and migration. This honour allows me to do what I love most: raising awareness, building bridges, and advocating through ethical media coverage of refugees, migrants, minority groups, new neighbours, and new friends in Europe. Addressing complex issues requires a deeper understanding, and I am thrilled that my work contributes to this goal”, says Anna Alboth.

Amsterdammer of the year for making space for grief

Out of six candidates, AWoN director Rikko Voorberg earned the Amsterdammer of the Year award for his initiative on mourning and sorrow. For three years in a row, a glass greenhouse has been placed on public squares in Amsterdam and several other cities around Christmas time. It is open from 10 am to 10 pm for anyone to come, light a candle, and mourn. Volunteers are present to share the moment and to talk about grief.

Unifying people of all walks of life

“Honoured to be nominated and elected this year. It’s been my work for a long time already to create space for those themes that are hiding in the shadows. In this case it’s grief and mourning and it reaches thousands every year and is growing quickly. It has proven to be so unifying between people of all ages, walks of life and backgrounds. Grassroots action can really change the world, in the city of Amsterdam and anywhere”, says Rikko Voorberg.

The Amsterdammer of the Year Foundation organises an annual public election consisting of a nomination process, voting, and celebration. The foundation’s goal is to promote citizenship by highlighting ordinary Amsterdam residents who are committed to the city and showing all Amsterdam residents what they can do for their neighbourhood, neighbours, and city. The election has been organised since 2005.