Werner Holzer Prize awarded to Katja Gloger and DW's Jaafar Abdul Karim

At a time when press freedom is under pressure and international newsrooms are shrinking, the Werner Holzer Prize celebrates a profession that many consider indispensable to democracy. The award ceremony took place at Frankfurt's historic town hall, where Mayor Mike Josef emphasized the importance of fundamental rights like freedom of speech and press, first enshrined in 1848.

Award winners recognized

The 2026 winners reflect the breadth and ambition of the award. First prize went to Katja Gloger, a veteran Russia correspondent who moved to Moscow in 1989 and accompanied Vladimir Putin during his early presidency. Her recent book, "The Failure: An Investigative Report of Germany's Russia Policy," offers a critique of German policy toward Russia.

Dialogue in journalism

Second prize was awarded to DW journalist and presenter Jaafar Abdul Karim, whose talk show JaafarTalk reaches millions across the Arab world and in Germany. Abdul Karim emphasized the importance of dialogue in journalism, saying, "I firmly believe in the power of dialogue, today more than ever. That's why we must talk to one another. Even when it gets difficult. Even when we disagree. Or perhaps precisely because of that."

The jury praised Abdul Karim for creating programs that foster dialogue between countries, generations, and religions. His show has garnered over 1.1 billion views across platforms and grown to more than 9 million followers, with the motto "Diversity fosters dialogue."

Press freedom concerns

Gloger, who worked for Reporters Without Borders for 12 years, highlighted the challenges facing journalism today. The latest rankings show that only one in 100 people can get their information from free, independent journalism and a free, independent press. That shows what's at stake, she said. She dedicated her award to journalists in exile and colleagues at Novaya Gazeta, which recently shut down operations in Russia.

Both winners stressed the need for fact-based journalism that promotes dialogue and reflects societal diversity. Abdul Karim specifically called for taking a clear stand against racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, discrimination, sexism, and hate speech, regardless of their source.