Overview
- Juliane Schäuble received the top honor, with Susanne Koelbl and Katharina Willinger sharing second place, and a special jury prize awarded posthumously to Christine Kensche.
- Christine Kensche, WELT’s Israel correspondent since 2020, was cited for early reporting from Kibbutz Re’im after Oct. 7 and investigations into Hamas financing and sexual violence.
- Kensche’s parents accepted the tribute in the Römer’s Kaisersaal, noting deep pride as well as sorrow.
- Defence Minister Boris Pistorius used his keynote to warn about rising contempt for human dignity in public life and referenced lessons from the Weimar Republic.
- Institute chair Michel Friedman flagged manipulation risks tied to AI and TikTok use by young audiences, as organizers highlighted the award’s €20,000 endowment and 2022 founding.