IJ4EU is committed to a fully independent and transparent evaluation of all nominations, ensuring every nominated investigation is assessed fairly.
To achieve this, a pre-evaluation process shortlists eligible submissions, after which a diverse, expert jury of five rigorously selects the winners, guaranteeing that only the most impactful cross-border investigations are recognized.
PRE-EVALUATION PROCESS
All eligible nominations will undergo a pre-evaluation process coordinated by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and carried out in collaboration with students enrolled in the Bachelor’s programme in Communication and Media Studies at Leipzig University. The purpose of the pre-evaluation is to provide a report as well as a structured shortlist of 10 nominated investigations, serving as a reference for the award jury in their independent decision-making.
The pre-evaluation will be based on the following two criteria:
- International scope: Reach and collaboration across borders
- Impact: Measured by political, institutional, and structural changes and reactions, influence within the journalistic community, audience engagement, recognition through awards and mentions, as well as the investigation’s potential for further impact
The jury has access to all eligible nominations and maintains full independence in selecting the three equal winners of the IJ4EU Impact Award, whether from the shortlist or beyond.
SELECTION PROCESS
The jury will be fully independent in its decision-making but will be provided with a set of criteria to guide the process. The jury’s decision will take into account, but is not limited to:
- Impact of the nominated investigation
- Journalistic quality of the nominated investigation
- Innovative use of cross-border journalism to cover a topic of public interest
- Newsworthiness and added value of the nominated investigation to public discourse in the EU
- Storytelling techniques
- Potential of the nominated investigation to inspire similar cross-border journalism and contribute to the sustainability of investigative journalism in the EU.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
All shortlisted nominees will be contacted ahead of the public announcement of the finalists.
Winning teams will receive the good news at least four weeks before the award ceremony at the UNCOVERED Conference and invited to present their work, connect with fellow journalists, and celebrate their impact at the conference.