Overview

• At the Grimme Online Award ceremony in Essen, directors Moritz Riesewieck and Hans Block publicly declined their prize in protest.
• Grimme director Çiğdem Uzunoğlu announced an operational split from the independent supporters’ association following the revoked honor for activist Judith Scheytt.
• The Förderverein had withdrawn Scheytt’s recognition citing alleged distortion of the Middle East conflict, while three of six jurors stood by the original decision.
• Uzunoğlu said the institute exerted no pressure on the jury and pledged a transparent discussion, emphasizing that jury independence must be upheld.
• The institute reported new backing from the RAG-Stiftung and Stiftung Zollverein, said finances are secure for this and next year, and plans to keep the awards based in Essen.