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The Freedom of Speech Award, a transparent cube resting on an angle on a wooden cube, with the words "Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award" on the top cube
Image: DW/P. Böll

DW Freedom of Speech Award

Each year, DW honors an individual or initiative promoting freedom of expression and human rights with the Freedom of Speech Award. This year, the honor goes to Georgian journalist Tamar Kintsurashvili.

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Tamar Kinturashvili in a light blue blazer, speaks at the Global Media Forum 2025.

Journalist Kintsurashvili wins DW Freedom of Speech Award

Georgia's veteran journalist Tamar Kintsurashvili has been shaping her country's democracy for decades.
PoliticsJuly 7, 2025
Tamar Kintsurashvili, the executive director of Georgia's Media Development Foundation

DW Freedom of Speech Award laureate: 'Information is power'

This year, DW has chosen to honor Tamar Kintsurashvili, a journalist in Georgia fighting disinformation.
Human RightsJuly 7, 202503:16 min
DW's Director General Peter Limbourg in a TV studio

Courage is essential in the fight for freedom of expression

Tamar Kintsurashvili's work for press freedom requires a lot of courage, says DW's Director General Peter Limbourg.
Press FreedomApril 29, 202506:26 min
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Yulia Navalnaya

Can Yulia Navalnaya unite the Russian opposition?

DW has honored Alexei Navalny's widow and the Anti-Corruption Foundation with the Freedom of Speech Award.
PoliticsJune 5, 2024
Yulia Navalnaya, holding the award, gestures to German Finance Minister Christian Lindner and DW Director General Peter Limbourg. Berlin, June 5, 2024.

Yulia Navalnaya: Free speech is our 'most important weapon'

Although Vladimir Putin killed her husband, Yulia Navalnaya said Russia's leader "didn't silence him and his ideas."
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Zibakalam gestures with his left hand towards the camera during an interview in 2017

Iran jails regime critic Sadegh Zibakalam

Iranian Sadegh Zibakalam, recipient of DW's 2018 Freedom of Speech Award, has been jailed on "propaganda" charges.
Freedom of SpeechMay 13, 2024
Yulia Navalnaya stands in a queue with other voters at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin, after noon local time, on Sunday, March 17, 2024

Yulia Navalnaya to receive DW Freedom of Speech Award 2024

The widow of Russian opposition leader Navalny and his foundation are the 10th DW Freedom of Speech Award laureates.
MediaMay 3, 2024
Oscar Martinez speaks to DW at the prize ceremony

DW Freedom of Speech winner: 'Silence is not an option'

Accepting the award, El Salvadoran journalist Oscar Martinez described the dangers reporters face in the region.
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DW's Freedom of Speech Award is a glass cube mounted on a wooden base

Oscar Martinez: 'Journalism is indispensable'

DW has awarded the Freedom of Speech Award 2023 to Central American investigative journalist Oscar Martinez.
Freedom of SpeechMay 3, 2023
Oscar Martinez photographed, with a book case in the background

DW Freedom of Speech Award 2023 goes to Oscar Martinez

The journalist from El Salvador becomes the ninth laureate for his work promoting press freedom in Central America.
MediaMay 3, 2023
A man carries his child away from a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

'There is a lot that people don't know about Ukraine's war'

The Freedom of Speech Award laureates talk about what they went through, and why they will return to the front lines.
PoliticsJune 20, 2022
GMF 2022 | Freedom of Speech Award | Gewinner

DW honors journalists for Mariupol reports

Risking their lives, journalists Evgeniy Maloletka and Mstyslav Chernov documented the siege of Ukraine's port city.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel opens the DW Global Media Forum 2021

Global Media Forum: Innovation after COVID disruption

DW's Global Media Forum, titled "Disruption and Innovation," seeks to find answers for journalism after the pandemic.
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Pressefreiheit Symbolbild

Cambodia: Journalist Sovann Rithy released from prison

Journalist Sovann Rithy, arrested in April for "incitement to cause chaos," was released from prison on October 5.
Press FreedomOctober 7, 2020
Verfolgte Journalisten One Free Press Coalition Mohammad Mosaed Iran

Iran takes action against Freedom of Speech Award laureate

Iran's judiciary acts against DW Freedom of Speech Award laureate Mosaed who faces nearly five years in prison.
Press FreedomSeptember 10, 2020
Reporter Jonathan Karl ABC News

'Journalism is widely appreciated right now'

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Press FreedomJune 12, 2020

Venezuela: 'We need more journalists on the streets'

Venezeluan journalist shares what the DW Freedom of Speech Award means to him and journalism in his country.
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Uganda Journalist David Musisi Kalyankolo shows where police beat him on the head

African journalists honored with DW Freedom of Speech Award

Ugandan and Zimbabwean reporters have been honored for their sacrifices while reporting during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Human RightsMay 3, 2020
Tanzania We need freedom of press

DW honors journalists persecuted for COVID-19 reporting

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Anabel Hernández

'Why do they want to silence us?'

DW's Freedom of Speech Award winner Anabel Hernandez has warned against organized crime, calling for truth and justice.
SocietyMay 27, 2019
Profile image of Donald Trump

How Donald Trump undermines press freedom at home and abroad

After two years in office, Trump has consistently vilified the media at home and undermined press freedom abroad.
MediaFebruary 26, 2019
Freedom of Speech Award

Zibakalam: Hope for future of democracy in Iran

DW's Freedom of Speech Award goes to Iranian political scientist Sadegh Zibakalam, who faces jail for speaking his mind.
PoliticsJune 12, 2018
Simbabwe Symbolbild Pressefreiheit

AfricaLink on Air - 03 May 2018

Press freedom is fragile in parts of Africa but how are things in The Gambia?+++ A milestone for DW as we turn 65 today
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Sadegh Zibakalam

Freedom of Speech Award for Sadegh Zibakalam

Iranian political scientist Sadegh Zibakalam faces prison for remarks made in a DW interview.
PoliticsMay 3, 2018
Winner of the Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award 2017: White House Correspondents' Association; Award accepted by Jeff Mason (President, White House Correspondents' Association, USA)

Reporters in Trump White House scoop DW award

WHCA president Jeff Mason said he hopes the award will "shed light on the importance of press freedom around the world."
SocietyJune 19, 2017
external

White House Correspondents win DW's Freedom of Speech Award

This year, DW's Freedom of Speech Award was given to the journalists of the White House Correspondents' Association. They are "establishing a new benchmark in reporting about the policies of the new US administration." WHCA president Jeff Mason received the prize at DW's Global Media Forum in Bonn.
PoliticsJune 19, 201701:19 min
external

DW's Freedom of Speech Award 2017

The White House Correspondents' Association holds US leadership to account, DW says. That's why they won the award.
PoliticsMay 3, 201701:07 min
Jeff Mason (picture-alliance/dpa/Albin Lohr-Jones/Consolidated)

White House Correspondents win DW Freedom of Speech Award

Deutsche Welle said the WHCA had established a new benchmark in holding US leadership accountable.
MediaMay 3, 2017
Bonn Global Media Forum GMF 02 | Award Ceremony Limbourg, Ergin und Diekmann

DW Freedom of Speech Award 2016

The DW prize is awarded annually to journalists who stand out in their fight for human rights and free speech.
MediaJune 14, 2016
Sedat Ergin

DW Award goes to Hürriyet's editor-in-chief

DW's 2016 Freedom of Speech Award goes to Turkish journalist Sedat Ergin.
April 21, 2016
Deutschland Ensaf Haidar Frau von Raif Badawi PK in Berlin

Raif Badawi's wife accepts DW Freedom of Speech award

Ensaf Haidar, wife of the blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes by a Saudi court, has announced a new freedom foundation.
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Ensaf Haidar won't be deterred in her battle for the release of her husband Raif Badawi.
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Backlashgroup #Backlash Kampagne Raif Badawi

Eye-catching campaign

The head of the new online campaign #Backlash, talks about highlighting the plight of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose conviction on "insulting Islam" has come to symbolize Saudi oppression.
June 5, 201505:47 min
Demonstration for Raif Badawi

Freedom of Speech Award for Raif Badawi

Imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi of Saudi Arabia receives DWs first Freedom of Speech award.
February 25, 2015