2026 Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism (US$5,000 prize )

Introduction

The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund was set up in memory of American journalist Kurt Schork, who was killed in a military ambush while reporting in Sierra Leone in 2000. It exists to keep the world aware of the debt we owe to brave journalists who engage in courageous reporting of conflict, corruption, injustice and human rights transgressions.

Award Overview

The annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism honour the work of freelance journalists, local reporters and news fixers in developing countries or nations in transition, whose work is often poorly paid, mostly unsung and frequently fraught with danger.

Award Categories

The three award categories, open to those reporting for print and online publications, recognise the media professionals that Kurt particularly admired:

• Recognising freelance journalists who travel to the world’s conflict zones, usually at great personal risk, to witness and report on the impact and consequences of these events.
• Recognising the often-overlooked work of journalists in developing nations, or countries in transition, who write about events in their homeland.
• Recognising the work of local journalists or experts, typically hired by foreign correspondents, whose guidance and local knowledge play an unsung but vital role in facilitating international coverage from difficult, dangerous or hostile locations.

Application Procedure

• Entrants for the Local Reporter and Freelance Awards must submit three articles each, published between June 01, 2025 and June 14, 2026.
• The judges will look for journalistic excellence in applicants’ submissions and evidence of determination and courage in obtaining their stories.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 14, 2026.

Benefits

The award comes with a US$5,000 prize.