Two of the three are in the Regional Journalism category. Simona Janíková's investigation for Okraj.cz (in colaboration with Jakub Mirowski, Kateřina Šimečková and Klára Filipová), 'The Oder Is on the Edge: Cleaner Water May No Longer Be Enough to Save the River', has been shortlisted. The Czech-Polish team examined the ongoing crisis facing the Oder three years after the 2022 mass fish die-off, the largest ecological disaster in EU history, revealing that the root cause remains unaddressed: saltwater discharge from Upper Silesian mines. They also found that meaningful cross-border cooperation between the three affected countries is lacking.
Also shortlisted in the same category is Europe's Biggest Hole: A Portrait of Recultivation in a Uranium-Contaminated Landscape by Zuzana Vlasatá (Deník Referendum). Produced in collaboration with Marius Münstermann and Michael Billig, this cross-border investigation reveals how the Czech village of Mydlovary, contaminated by the Soviet nuclear programme, has become a dumping ground for millions of tons of waste from Germany, Austria and Italy, including hazardous materials. Despite long-standing concerns from experts and authorities, the trade continues, with some waste dealers describing Mydlovary as 'the biggest hole in Europe' for rubbish disposal.
Shortlisted in both the Innovative Journalism and Public Award categories is the Czech article from the Europe-wide Housing Games project, published in Deník Referendum. This investigation by Anna Absolonová (in collaboration with Gaby Khazalová, Hendrik Lehmann, David Meidinger, Sarah Pilz, Nina Breher and Steven Vanden Bussche) maps the affordability of city living for essential workers, including nurses, teachers, drivers and first responders. The Prague findings reveal that, unlike cities such as Berlin, the Czech capital is unaffordable for key workers across virtually all districts. The project's data has since been shared with the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, drawing direct approaches from German government officials.
All three projects reflect Journalismfund Europe's commitment to cross-border, data-driven journalism with a clear and demonstrable impact on the public interest.
Novinářská cena 2025: Známe úzké nominace, osf.cz, 22/04/2026
