Visibility for the right causes

Respectful reporting on the subject of poverty

The media are in a difficult economic situation – and the debate often focuses on digitisation, platforms and advertising revenue, algorithms or users. Far too rarely does it focus on the content of reporting: which topics receive attention and which do not? Which people are almost never portrayed? To draw attention to overlooked people and topics, the Journalismuspreis »von unten« (journalism award »from below«) has been awarded since 2010.

The journalism award »from below« is an outstanding initiative of the Poverty Conference because it honours something that, unfortunately, cannot be taken for granted today as Maribel Königer, Director of Media and Journalism at the ERSTE Foundation explained: »Respectful reporting on poverty means consciously focusing on areas that society otherwise ignores. It makes visible what does not fit into the logic of beautiful, fast and rich, and reminds us that journalism must be more than a competition for attention.«

The jury consists of people who have been or are themselves affected by poverty. In 2025, the award went to the following in the categories of print, online, radio and television, among others:

Category Radio


Category Print 

  • Thomas Winkelmüller & Maya Luna Mendivil Jahnke (Text) and Ursula Röck (photos) for their article in the monthly magazine Datum, entitled »Die Pflegekinder« (The Children in Care). The jury was impressed by the article’s vivid description of the little-known problem of children in care, which was further emphasised by the lively photos.


Category Online 

  • Beatrix Kouba for her reportage »Between spaces: queer people in homelessness« published on zimtmagazin.at. From the jury’s statement: »In her reportage, the author writes about a facet of homelessness that is otherwise hushed up in public – how queer people fare on the streets. In doing so, she succeeds in sensitively portraying a topic that is often misrepresented.«

Category TV

  • Tiba Marchetti for her report »Drugs in the Countryside« (ORF Am Schauplatz). The jury praised the extensively researched, comprehensively designed report and the fact that those affected were given plenty of space to share their experiences.

All winners 2025: https://www.armutskonferenz.at/news/news-2025/journalismuspreis-von-unten-2025-vergeben.html

The jury’s reasoning shows that only people who have experienced poverty themselves should decide which contributions are truly respectful. Because the award is more than a prize – it’s a statement: good reporting demands empathy, analytical depth, and the courage to illuminate uncomfortable realities. »If we had more stories like this, it would not only help those affected but also the media, which needs to prove its relevance anew,« says Maribel Königer. And in doing so, the reporting would also cover the social and political dimensions, as one jury member put it for the guide to respectful reporting on poverty: »I would like to see courageous journalism, i.e. journalism that does not just focus on individual cases, but understands the political significance of the issue of poverty.«

»S úctou k ludom« = »With respect towards people«

There are now awards for respectful reporting on poverty in many European countries, from Poland to Portugal. The ERSTE Foundation not only supports the journalism award »von unten« (from below) in Austria, but also other awards in Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary. In October 2025, the Slovak Anti-Poverty Network (SAPN) awarded the »With Respect Towards People« prize for the second time in Bratislava for journalistic contributions that deal with the topic of poverty in a mindful and respectful manner. The prize is under the patronage of the Slovak Ombudsman for Human Rights, JUDr. Róbert Dobrovodský.

Category: Print journalism

  • 1st place:
    Anna Jacková for the article »Zmenili mi život bez môjho vedomia« in Kapitál magazine – an impressive report on involuntary sterilisation that raises important questions about human rights and dignity.

Category: Audiovisual journalism – Audio (Podcasts & Radio)

  • 1st place:
    Barbora Mareková for the episode »V dvanástich sa dostal do detského domova. Ako sa majú deti odkázané na štát?« from the podcast Ľudskosť (SME) – a moving piece about children in state care and the importance of social bonds.

Category: Audiovisual journalism – Video (TV)

  • 1st place:
    Tomáš Gerši for the reportage »Hranice dôstojnosti« (STVR/Občan za dverami) – about carers and people who come into conflict with the system when trying to help others. A sensitive look at solidarity and social mechanisms.

Photo: Svenja Knisel / Die Armutskonferenz