“Honor of the Profession” is more than just a competition. It is about people who, even in the most difficult times, continue to seek the truth, tell important stories, and give a voice to those who deserve to be heard.
This year, 1,011 entries were submitted to the competition: 790 in the main categories and 221 in the special categories. Every submission is a testament to professionalism, courage, and dedication to journalism.
The award for Best Interview went to Iryna Sysak, Pavlo Kholodov, and Maryna Polshyna for their piece, “Conversations with Russians on Chatroulette, the War, History, and Russian Propaganda | An Interview with Vitalii Dribnytsia.”
In the Best Reportage category, Maia Orel was recognized for her story, “A Fragment Shattered a Third of His Brain. How a Father Cares for His Wounded Son in a Village Without a Washing Machine, Running Water, and a Proper Bathroom.”
Powerful stories were also told through war reporting this year, with Oleksii Nikulin and Ksiusha Savoskina winning for their piece, “Drone Threats Make Evacuating the Wounded Difficult. How the 79th Brigade’s Stabilization Point Operates.”
In the Investigative Reporting category, the winning team of authors included Dmytro Dzhulai, Yevhen Lubchak, Vlad Yatskiv, Pavlo Kholodov, and Volodymyr Pautov for their project, “Bucha Yablunska.”
In Opinion and Commentary, the award went to Vira Kuryko-Ahiienko for “The Family of Martial Law,” while the Best Analysis award was given to Sviatoslav Khomenko for “Their Flags Annoy Us. Have Poles Really Fallen Out of Love with Ukrainians, and How Serious Is It?”
In the special category “Memorial Story of the Year,” the award was shared by two works: Aliona Martyniuk’s “The Ratushnyis: The Legend of the Knight and the Druid,” and Hanna Mamonova’s piece about the life of a memorial space in central Kyiv.
In the area of charity and social impact, recognition went to Viktoriia Palaida, Yurii Makovetskyi, Yurii Kis, and Petro Kolodii for their story, “How a Child’s Sincerity Helps Soldiers Return to Life.”
Particularly noteworthy was the victory of Oleksandr Nosok in the special category dedicated to the lives of Ukrainians under temporary occupation, for his reporting on the persecution, torture, and unlawful imprisonment of Enerhodar residents and employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Special distinctions were also awarded:
— “For Dedication to the Profession Under the Harshest Conditions” — Yevhen Streltsov
— “Hope of Journalism” — Vladyslava Kobko and Denys Klymenko (“So They Would Not Be Buried as Unknown: The Return of One Thousand Fallen Soldiers”)
— “Best Audio Story” — Anna Kravets and Anastasiia Moskvychova (“Komashka Against the FSB”)
We sincerely congratulate all winners and laureates of the Honor of the Profession competition.
Thank you for your professional, responsible, and vitally important work.
We also greatly admire the work of the Organizing Committee and the National Association of Media.