The Mariusz Walter Awards ceremony took place on March 21, 2025, at the POLIN Museum in Warsaw, Poland, celebrating excellence in journalism across various categories. This year marked the introduction of the Bożena and Mariusz Walter Special Award, which underlines the commitment to honoring innovative and impactful journalistic work.
The prestigious accolade for the Special Award was presented to Marcin Wrona, a correspondent for Faktów TVN, whose contributions were recognized for their excellence and social sensitivity. Wrona expressed gratitude during the ceremony, highlighting the importance of commitment to truth and integrity in journalism. This award is a personal recognition bestowed by the founder, Bożena Walter, emphasizing the need for courageous journalism that represents significant values in society.
Another major highlight of the evening was the award for Media Personality of the Year, which went to Karolina Lewicka from TOK FM. Lewicka's efforts in fostering meaningful dialogue through media have made her a significant figure in journalism, setting a standard for others in the field. According to the award organizers, "Nagrody te to wskazanie kierunku, w którym polskie media powinny się rozwijać i jakie wartości reprezentować," indicating a clear vision for the future of Polish media.
In the New Voice in Media category, the award was claimed by the team from Jawny Lublin, which includes Agnieszka Mazuś, Krzysztof Jakubowski, and Krzysztof Wiejak. Their unique approach to engaging with audiences through innovative media platforms has filled a critical gap in traditional journalism. This recognition underlines the growing importance of diverse voices in the media landscape.
The category of Media Event of the Year recognized Renata Kim for her impactful articles regarding Collegium Humanum in Newsweek Polska. Her work reflects deep investigative journalism that holds institutions accountable while shedding light on pressing social issues.
Additionally, Mirosław Żukowski, noted for his independent commentary, earned the award in the Sports in Media category, showcasing the significance of sports journalism in the broader media ecosystem.
The ceremony, which was broadcast live, gathered multiple notable figures from the journalism community and highlighted the importance of recognizing and encouraging creativity in reporting. This gathering was not just a celebration but also a call to action, inspiring current and aspiring journalists to uphold high ethical standards in their work.
As an ongoing initiative, the Mariusz Walter Awards aim to emphasize the role of journalists in fostering societal progress and ethical conduct. This year’s winners have set the bar high for future journalists, illustrating that impactful journalism requires not only skill but also intuition and a commitment to social justice.
The Mariusz Walter Awards have quickly established themselves as a critical platform for recognizing journalistic talent since their inception by the Bożena and Mariusz Walter Foundation in late 2023. As the ceremony concludes, the hopes are high for future laureates to continue exploring creative avenues in media that align with the ethical standards the awards represent.