This year, the competition received 31 articles written by authors with more than 3 years of journalistic experience and 14 articles written by those with less than 3 years of work in the media. 

Many of these articles were of excellent quality and the jury had a hard time coming to a decision. However, after careful consideration, the jury has chosen the winners. 

"Professional journalist" category (in alphabetical order):

• Katerina Barushka (author), Birgit Püve (photographer) (Belarus), Alina in Lukaland, Cafebabel, March 1st, 2017
• Moritz Gathmann (author), Maxim Sarychau (photographer) (Germany), Dance with the volcano, Cicero.de, May 29th, 2017
• Alena Spasiuk (Belarus), Underground Belarusian, openDemocracy.net, July 24th, 2017

Winners in this category will receive certificates of 500 EUR each for professional development (a journalist trip to Belarus, paid educational programs, equipment, etc.). 

"Beginner journalists" category (in alphabetical order):

• Yan Auseyushkin (Belarus), Day of freedom nowhere to be seen. How protests in Belarus were trampled down by Special Police Force boots, Focus.ua, May 29th, 2017
• Marina Starodubtseva (Kazakhstan), The Chechen Watcher, openDemocracy.net, November 23rd, 2017
• Patryk Szczepaniak (Poland), Viva Belarus!, OKO.press, April 1st, 2017.

Winners in this category will receive certificates of 300 EUR each for professional development (a journalist trip to Belarus, paid educational programs, equipment, etc.). 

We also want to give an honorable mention to Amy McKinnon (United Kingdom). Both her articles got into the shortlist -  Why Has Russia’s Propaganda Machine Set its Sights on Belarus? and Why Europe’s Last Dictator May Suddenly Need Uncensored TV (Сodastory, March 23rd and 6th).

All the winners will be notified individually of how do they get the award.