Winners of the Prix Bohemia Radio in 2020, 2021 and 2022
The Prix Bohemia Radio festival took place even during the crisis—or rather, the COVID-19 pandemic—sometimes only online. Do you remember?
YEAR 2020
The jury met online, but had no trouble agreeing on the winners.
1st place went to Anger and despair on both sides of the planned wall on the Mexican-American border
Author: Jan Kaliba
The jury decided: The jury members agreed that the quality of this year’s entries was exceptionally high. The reports were rich in sound, colorful, and varied. Some went beyond mere news reporting, while others gave a voice to people whose stories are not usually heard. In several cases, the jurors mentioned that they could even “smell” the place. The most powerful stories were both universal and transcended borders and language barriers.
2nd place went to the Dawid
Author: Agnieszka Szwajgier, Program III Polskiego Radia
The jury decided: According to the jury, the two winning entries stood out for their comprehensive coverage of complex stories using a variety of sources. Dawid offered a look at the immediate aftermath of a child’s murder in a small town; the report’s main strength was its thoughtful use of sound as commentary.
3rd place went to Egészen kicsi ének (Rather little song)
Authors: Bea Kiss, Erika Farkas, MTVA, channel KOSSUTH RADIO
Jury’s Decision: With sensitivity and empathy, the filmmakers transported us into the world of a neonatal unit for premature babies. Without resorting to unnecessary sentimentality, their commentary painted a vivid audio portrait of the neonatal unit from the perspective of the parents and the people who work with them.
YEAR 2021
The jury reviewed the 12 submitted reports and, at its meeting on October 19, 2021, decided:
1st place went to the program The aftertaste left by cars in the Brno pedestrian zone: The road shortcut through the center returns to pedestrians
Author: Tomáš Kremr
Jury’s Decision: This is an exemplary piece of radio journalism, showcasing the author's extensive research and many hours of beat reporting, which he has transformed into a vivid, yet balanced narrative that grabs the listener's attention from start to finish. This report features masterful storytelling, a multiplicity of original voices and use of background audio, which instantly transport us to Brno's pedestrian zone. The author's keen eye for details that advance the story, his sense of pacing and irony stand out. This report is proof that audio journalism, no matter how local, can have the power to mobilize, entertain and inform in the right journalistic hands.
2nd place went to Reportažas iš COVID pacientus slaugančių Lietuvos ligninių (Report from Lithuanian Hospitals Taking Care of the covid-19 Infected Patients)
Author: Edita Vitė, LRT, Litva
Jury’s Decision: At the time when this radio report was aired, many Lithuanians were crowding into shopping malls ahead of Christmas, ignoring the warnings of a new COVID wave. The powerful audio testimonies gathered from the frontlines - in this case the ICU units of the country's major hospitals - convey in stark terms the hidden battle confronting the country. This is a strong example of excellent public service journalism, which can have the power to save lives.
3rd place went to Niesiemy Dobro (We bring Charity)
Author: Magdalena Świerczyńska-Dolot, Radio Gdańsk, Polsko
Jury’s Decision: The jury would like to commend the author for her mastery of audio and narrative pacing. This is a beautifully told radio story, deceptively simple, but with a deep message about compassion and the human need for connection and meaning, especially in the face of the COVID pandemic. There are no extraneous descriptions. The characters tell their story. Depth and lyricism are achieved in micro moments. We are there and we understand.
YEAR 2022
The jury reviewed the 13 submitted reports at its meeting on October 11, 2022, and decided:
1st place went to Relokantai: Išgyventi Minską. Baltarusių aktyvistė Olga tęsia kovą prieš režimą iš Vilniaus (Relocants: Surviving Minsk. Belarusian activist Olga fights the regime from Vilnius)
Author: Ieva Balsiūnaitė, LRT Radio, Litva
Jury’s Decision: This award honors a skillful report that gives a voice to one of thousands of Belarusian protesters who mostly remain silent about their collective trauma. The Jury applauds the choice of a main character who reveals through the mastery of empathetic interviewing of the reporter, her strength as well as vulnerability. This report features masterful storytelling, showing many dimensions of a protest movement and the emotional toll the protest has taken on the Belarusian community.
2nd place went to Die Proteste gehen weiter/Belarus (The Protests Continue)
Author: Carola Schneider, ORF Radio, Rakousko
Jury’s Decision: The report is a strong piece of radio journalism weaving together personal testimonies while giving a full background of the situation in Belarus. It managed to create an exceptional sence of time and place even though the journalist was working from a distance. Jury notes that this report was one of the few focused on the second wave of Belarusian protests when they received considerably less international attention.
3rd place went to Complicated breech delivery managed by an ambulance operator over the phone
Author: Petr Kubát
Jury’s Decision: The Jury commends a captivating reporting of a unique story, which skilfully uses the audio material and manages to explain a complicated medical story in an accessible and comprehensive manner. It is a powerful, short and thrilling radio report.
