Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award

Deadline: 13-Sep-2026

The Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award 2026 recognizes women journalists and women-led journalistic teams from Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Member States for producing gender-sensitive, evidence-based, and solutions-oriented journalism. Winners receive fully sponsored participation in the award ceremony and networking events, official recognition, and access to the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists.

About the Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award

The Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award was launched in 2026 by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in partnership with the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists.

The initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of women in journalism and media across the Euro-Mediterranean region by recognizing outstanding reporting that promotes gender equality, evidence-based storytelling, and practical solutions to regional challenges.

The award supports the UfM’s broader mission of promoting dialogue, cooperation, sustainable development, and women’s leadership across its Member States.

Award Objectives

The award aims to:

• Recognize excellence in journalism.
• Promote women’s leadership in media.
• Increase the visibility of women journalists.
• Encourage gender-sensitive reporting.
• Support evidence-based journalism.
• Promote solutions-oriented storytelling.
• Strengthen cross-border media collaboration.
• Highlight regional issues affecting the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• Encourage reporting aligned with UfM priorities.
• Build stronger professional networks for women journalists.

Eligible Themes

Submitted journalistic work must address at least one UfM sectoral cooperation priority, including:

• Gender equality.
• Youth engagement.
• Inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Higher education.
• Research and innovation.
• Environment.
• Green economy.
• Sustainable blue economy.
• Sustainable urban development.
• Sustainable transport.
• Climate action.
• Energy resilience.
• Water resilience.
• Disaster risk management.
• Employment.
• Labour issues.
• Trade.
• Investment.
• Industry.
• Digital transformation.
• Migration.

Projects may focus on one or multiple priorities provided they demonstrate clear relevance.

Journalism Standards

Eligible submissions should demonstrate:

• Gender-sensitive reporting.
• Evidence-based journalism.
• Solutions-oriented storytelling.
• Strong journalistic ethics.
• High editorial quality.
• Accurate reporting.
• Public interest value.
• Regional relevance.
• Inclusive perspectives.
• Constructive reporting approaches.

The award values journalism that goes beyond identifying problems by highlighting practical responses and positive solutions.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Women journalists from any of the 43 UfM Member States.
• Women-led collaborative journalism teams.

For team submissions:

• Women must represent at least 50% of the credited core contributors.

Applicants may submit individual or collaborative journalistic work.

Eligible Publications

Entries must:

• Be original journalistic work.
• Have been first published or broadcast between 1 July 2025 and 13 September 2026.
• Address at least one UfM sectoral priority.
• Focus on one or more UfM Member States.
• Meet all submission requirements.

Multiple submissions are permitted, but each entry must be submitted separately.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are expected to be assessed based on:

• Journalistic excellence.
• Evidence-based reporting.
• Gender sensitivity.
• Solutions-oriented approach.
• Regional relevance.
• Quality of research.
• Editorial standards.
• Cross-border collaboration.
• Contribution to gender equality.
• Alignment with UfM priorities.

Additional recognition may be given to projects demonstrating strong regional cooperation and women-led collaborative approaches.

Award Benefits

Selected winners will receive:

• Full sponsorship to attend the award ceremony.
• Participation in the annual Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists networking sessions.
• Participation in professional training activities.
• Official diploma.
• Institutional recognition through UfM communication channels.
• Membership opportunities within the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists.
• Increased international visibility.

The award offers professional recognition rather than direct financial funding.

What Winners Receive

Award recipients will benefit from:

• Sponsored travel and participation in the November 2026 award events.
• Networking with journalists from across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• Professional learning opportunities.
• Institutional recognition from the Union for the Mediterranean.
• Greater visibility for their journalistic work.
• Opportunities for future collaboration across the region.

The award does not create an employment or contractual relationship with the UfM Secretariat.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should follow these steps.

1. Review the official award guidelines.
2. Confirm your eligibility.
3. Select an eligible journalistic work.
4. Ensure the work was published within the eligible publication period.
5. Verify that the submission addresses at least one UfM priority.
6. Prepare all required supporting documentation.
7. Complete a separate application for each submission.
8. Submit the application before the official deadline.

Applicants should carefully follow all submission instructions provided by the organizers.

Application Components

A complete application will generally include:

• Applicant information.
• Team information (if applicable).
• Journalistic work.
• Publication details.
• Publication date.
• Description of the work.
• Explanation of its relevance to UfM priorities.
• Supporting documents requested by the organizers.

Each submission should clearly demonstrate originality and journalistic quality.

Why This Award Matters

Women remain underrepresented in many areas of journalism, particularly in leadership positions and international recognition.

The award helps:

• Promote women journalists.
• Strengthen gender equality in media.
• Encourage ethical journalism.
• Support evidence-based reporting.
• Increase women’s leadership.
• Foster regional cooperation.
• Encourage constructive journalism.
• Build professional media networks.
• Amplify diverse voices.
• Strengthen public dialogue across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

By recognizing outstanding journalism, the initiative contributes to more inclusive, balanced, and impactful media across the region.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid these common mistakes.

• Submitting work published outside the eligibility period.
• Failing to address a UfM priority area.
• Providing incomplete documentation.
• Submitting non-original work.
• Not meeting the women-led team requirements.
• Forgetting to submit separate applications for multiple entries.
• Providing insufficient evidence of publication.

Strong submissions clearly demonstrate journalistic excellence, factual accuracy, regional relevance, and meaningful contributions to gender-sensitive reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award?

It is an award established by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists to recognize outstanding women journalists producing gender-sensitive, evidence-based, and solutions-oriented journalism.

Who can apply?

Women journalists from any of the 43 UfM Member States and women-led journalism teams where women make up at least 50% of the credited core contributors.

What topics are eligible?

Eligible submissions must address at least one UfM priority area, including gender equality, climate action, migration, education, digital transformation, employment, sustainable development, research, innovation, and related themes.

What publication period is eligible?

Journalistic work must have been first published or broadcast between 1 July 2025 and 13 September 2026.

Can applicants submit more than one entry?

Yes. Multiple entries are allowed, but each must be submitted separately with the required documentation.

What do winners receive?

Winners receive fully sponsored participation in the November 2026 award ceremony and networking events, an official diploma, institutional recognition, and access to the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists.

What makes a strong application?

Competitive submissions demonstrate high journalistic standards, evidence-based reporting, gender-sensitive storytelling, regional relevance, practical solutions, and clear alignment with one or more UfM sectoral priorities.

Conclusion

The Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award 2026 celebrates the achievements of women journalists who produce impactful, evidence-based, and solutions-oriented reporting across the Euro-Mediterranean region. By recognizing excellence in journalism, promoting gender equality, and strengthening cross-border collaboration, the award enhances the visibility of women in media while encouraging high-quality reporting on issues that shape the region’s future. It provides a valuable platform for women journalists to gain international recognition, expand professional networks, and contribute to more inclusive and informed public discourse.

For more information, visit Union for the Mediterranean.