The 39 nominated reports will then be submitted before the principal jury, made up of four women and four men from each of the four different continents. The three reports that masterfully combine the criteria of the award – dedicated research, journalistic competence and social relevance – will be awarded the True Story Award 2021 at the jury meeting in Bern.

The jury has made its decision. In each of the 13 different languages and categories, the three most outstanding reports have been determined. The nominated reporters, together with representatives of the jury, will be invited to Bern for the 2nd International Reportagen Festival Bern from 20–22 August 2021: 60 guests from all over the world!

Over the past two months, the 42 jurors have read each submission and come to a preliminary decision: 120 reports made it onto the shortlist. The places of publication range from titles as diverse as the New York Times, Le Monde, El País and Süddeutsche Zeitung, to Al-Jazeera, The Intercept, Meduza, Mada Masr and the South China Morning Post.

To date, the official editorial deadline for the True Story Award 2020/21, a total of 1,179 reports have been received from 101 countries, written in more than 20 different languages. This is an impressive variety of voices, echoing from even the most remote parts of the world.

More on the True Story Award can be found here.