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The Cancer Journalism Award is organized by ESO to recognize outstanding pieces of journalism published or broadcast that are changing the way we think about cancer. The Award encourages, celebrates and rewards journalists who deliver insights into the personal and social effects of the disease, and the impact of policy, practice and advocacy. |
Annually ESO invites journalists to submit one or more items of their work – whether in print, online, on radio, video or television – into the following three categories:
- Policy, services and affordability
- Research and science
- Prevention and treatment
In all categories, we are look for articles/programmes that move beyond documenting experience, science, policy and practice. We want to reward work that asks dofficult questions, increases awareness and prompts change. We are particularly looking for investigative stories. We expect that patient experience and perspectives will be reflected in all submissions, whatever the category.
The Award is open to journalists working in the following regions:
- Europe (including non EU countries)
- Eastern Europe (including non EU countries)
- Eurasia
- Mediterranean area
- Central and Latin America
A prize of €1500 is available for the winner in each category. The journalist judged the overall winner will receive an additional €500 bringing their prize total to €2000.
Cancer Journalism Award past winners
Past winners
2021 Cancer Journalism Award winners
Overall winner and Winner of Policy, Services and Affordability category
Valentina Murelli and Maria Cristina Valsecchi - “Eva - Sapere è potere” website, Italy
Winner of Prevention and Treatment category
Katharina Nickoleit - Deutschlandfunk Radio, Germany
Winner of Research and Science category
Robin McKie - The Observer newspaper, UK
2019 - 2020 Cancer Journalism Award winners
Overall winner and winner of Research, Science and Treatment category
Anne Preger - WDR StoryQuarks podcast, Germany
Patient and Carer Experience category winner
Elijah Kanyi - Africa Uncensored YouTube channel, Kenya
Patrice Goldberg - Matière Grise, Belgium
Policy, Services and Affordability category winner
Myriam Vidal Valero, Rodrigo Pérez and Nelly Toche - New York Times - USA
2018 Cancer World Journalism Award winners
Overall winner & Policy, Services and Affordability category winner
Swagata Yadavar - IndiaSpend, India
Patient and Carer Experience category winner
Laure Andrillon - Slate magazine, France
Research, science and treatment category
Max Rauner - Zeit Wissen, Germany
Prevention category winner
Faiza Ilyas - Dawn, Pakistan
Special commendation
Hajar Harb - Gaza Post, Palestine
2016 Cancer World Journalism Award winners
Overall winner and Research, Science and Treatment category winner
Pia Heinemann - Welt Am Sonntag, Germany
Patient and Carer Experience category winner
Pauline Kairu - Daily Nation newspaper, Kenya
Policy, Services and Affordability category
Suman Naishadham - The Influence, India
Prevention category winner
Duanduan Yuan,Southern Weekly, China.
Special commendation
A special commendation was given to a group of entrants who had used funding from JournalismFund.eu (www.journalismfund.eu) to carry out an impressive cross-border investigation into why cancer patients in Eastern European countries often cannot afford the newest therapies and the role of the EU in setting the drug prices. These highly commended journalists are: Eric Breitinger (Switzerland), Aleksandra Jolkina (Latvia), Stanimir Vaglenov (Bulgaria), Cristian Niculescu (Romania), David Leloup (Belgium) and Dimitra Triantafillou (Greece).
Best Cancer Reporter Award
From 2006 to 2015 the Award was known as the Best Cancer Reporter Award
2015 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Matthew Hill, BBC, UK
2nd Prize: Patrice Goldberg, Matière Grise, Belgium
2014 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Steven Buist, Hamilton Spectator, Canada
Joint 2nd Prize:
Katrin Zoefel, Deutschlandfunk
Germany, Jason Gale, Bloomberg Markets, Australia
In addition, American journalist Clifton Leaf received a Best Cancer Reporter Lifetime Achievement award for his outstanding contribution to cancer journalism.
2013 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
Joint 1st Prize:
Tiffany O'Callaghan, New Scientist, United Kingdom
Joanne Silberner, Freelance journalist, US
Joint 2nd Prize:
Cristiane Hawranek & Marco Maurer, Freelance journalists, Germany
Ainhoa Iriberri, Revista Salud, Spain
In addition, the judges also recognised the work of Ugandan journalist Esther Nakkazi and Zimbabwe-based journalist Busani Bafana. These two journalists highlighted the struggle faced in addressing cancer in low-income countries and the role of the media in spotlighting specific problems.
2012 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Bernhard Albrecht, Der Spiegel, Germany
2nd Prize: Clive Cookson, Financial Times, United Kingdom
In addition, British journalist Cassandra Jardine (Daily Telegraph) and British journalist Steve Connor (Independent) received a Special Merit Award certificate that recognises the excellence of their work.
2011 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
Joint 1st Prize:
Mark Henderson, The Times, United Kingdom
Victoria Lambert, Freelance journalist, United Kingdom
2nd Prize: Martina Keller, Freelance journalist, Germany
In addition, the work of Silja Paavle who writes for Öhtuleht, one of Estonia’s highest circulation daily newspapers, was highly commended by the judges.
2010 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Nicola Kuhrt, Die Zeit, Germany
2nd Prize: Mark Henderson, The Times, United Kingdom
Romanian journalist Paula Herlo received a special BCRA Campaigner Award in recognition of her campaigning work of Romania's Pro TV News.
In addition, Polish journalist Slawomir Zagorski who writes for Gazeta Wyborcza, received a Special Merit Award.
2009 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
Joint 1st Prize:
Margaret McCartney, Financial Times, United Kingdom
Linda Geddes, New Scientist, United Kingdom
2nd Prize: Rabiya Tuma, The Economist, US
In addition, Italian journalist Daniela Ovadia and Portuguese journalist Nelson Marques received a Special Merit Award.
2008 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Simon Crompton, The Times, United Kingdom
2nd Prize: Ulrich Bahnsen, Die Zeit, Germany
3rd Prize: Päivi Repo, Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
2007 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Pawel Walewski, Polityka, Poland
Joint 2nd Prize:
Maria Valerio Sainz, El Mundo, Spain
Linda Geddes, New Scientist, UK
In addition, Eric Baumann from the Tages-Anzeiger, Switzerland and Iva Shohova from the Prague Post, Czech Republic received a Special Merit Award in recognition of their willingness to write about their personal cancer experience in order to raise awareness about some of the difficulties faced by cancer patients as they progress through their cancer journey.
2006 - Best Cancer Reporter Award
1st Prize: Sarah Boseley, the Guardian, UK
2nd Prize:
Catherine Kalamis, Guernsey Press, UK
Simon Crompton, The Times, UK
3rd Prize: Paul Benkimoun, Le Monde, France