Proud, happy and surprised – all The Swedish Grand Prize for Journalism winners 2024

The prizes were awarded at a ceremony in Bonniers Konsthall in Stockholm on November 21, and Swedish media were there to pay tribute to the winners.

– This year in particular has been a very strong year for Swedish journalism, it has been tough in all categories, says jury chairman Jonas Bonnier.

The Swedish Grand Prize for Journalism was established in 1966 and was awarded this year for the 58th consecutive year. The award, worth 100,000 Swedish kronor is given in five categories, Scoop of the Year, Storyteller of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Voice of the Year and Lukas Bonnier’s Grand Prize for Journalism.

The category Storyteller of the Year had been broadened this year and the jury looked at journalists who have dared, wanted to surprise and showed the media consumers a new type of method to present their journalism. The choice fell on Johan Hilton for his book The Last Theatre Director (Den siste teaterdirektören).

The jury’s motivation: “With deep subject knowledge and a sense of touch, he weaves together a personal tragedy with Swedish theatre history and tells of a time when the media lost its footing”.

“I was afraid that this project would feel too narrow and late and afraid of doing Benny Fredriksson injustice, says Johan Hilton who already when he was nominated said that it was “the finest recognition he has received professionally”.

The Swedish Grand Prize for Journalism in the category Innovator of the Year went to Diamant Salihu, Kalle Segerbäck, Ola Christoffersson and Axel Gordh Humlesjö from SVT for The Fraudsters (Bedragarna).

“With courage and an unexpected, bold method, the modus operandi of the fraudsters is revealed from inside the crime scene in a way that is both touching and upsetting”, said the jury.

“This shows that it is important to dare to go on a job without really knowing what it will lead to. The idea was born on the playground during my parental leave, but then it took a while before we made the decision. We discussed back and forth whether it was ethical and dangerous”, says Diamant Salihu.

The prize in the Voice of the Year category went to Sverige Radio’s Cecilia Uddén and Palestinian journalist Sami Abu Salem.
The jury’s motivation: “When no journalist is allowed into Gaza, many years of cooperation ensure that the stories of life and suffering still reach the public.”

“The biggest frustration for those of us who work in the Middle East is that we cannot be there. But Sami has helped us understand what it is like to work and live in Gaza. Once he saw his cousins ​​among the corpses outside a hospital. What he told is indescribable and unique”, says Cecilia Uddén.

The winners in the Scoop of the Year category were TV4’s Emil Hellerud and Daniel Andersson for Undercover in the Troll Factory (Undercover i trollfabriken).
“With the help of a hidden camera and a lot of courage, Kalla fakta reveals what has been denied by the Sweden Democrats for years – a troll factory, and the close ties with the media channel Riks,” the jury motivated.

“I was escalating, increasing nervousness when I stepped into the troll factory. I thought they would never be stupid enough to let me in. Towards the end, during the last days there, my heart was pounding every day”, says Daniel Andersson.

The award ceremony in Bonniers Konsthall ended as usual with the awarding of Lukas Bonnier’s Grand Prize for Journalism.

“This award goes to a journalist for their entire deed. When you look back at who has received the award before, it is those big, important and significant people whose names you will remember”, says Jonas Bonnier.

The winner of the Lukas Bonnier’s Grand Prize for Journalism 2024 was Robert Aschberg.
“As a TV pioneer, he stood for innovation and limitlessness, as an investigative reporter, he stood for courage and perseverance and – not least – as a publicist, he is at the forefront of the fight against the dark forces that are trying to tear down open society,” the jury writes in its justification.

“I didn’t jump for joy when I got the news. But I was happy and now that I’m standing here, I’m almost moved. I’ve been incredibly lucky in my life to have done a lot of different things. As long as you work for people who are open to new ideas, I’m happy,” said Robert Aschberg when he was praised on stage at the award ceremony.

This year’s awards gala was hosted by radio journalist Annika Lantz. The international guest was Jamil Anderlini, editor-in-chief of POLITICO Europe, with expertise in global politics and economics.