FHWien der WKW Presented the Young Journalism Award 2026

Vienna, September 30, 2026 – FHWien der WKW presented the Young Journalism Award for the eighth time on September 28, 2026. Eleven emerging talents were honored for entries in the Radio & Audio, TV & Video, Text and Multimedia categories, as well as for the best thesis. The award recognizes work produced as part of journalism training in Austria and showcases the achievements of aspiring journalists to a wider audience. It is presented with support from ORF, DER STANDARD, KURIER and Österreichische Medienakademie.

Winners of the 2026 Young Journalism Award

• Radio & Audio Category:
  Magdalena Hronek, Simon Fuchs, Anika Skubacz, Leon Spachmann and Julia Stürmer impressed the jury with “Beyond the Feed – A Journey Through Online Hate and Everyday Racism in Austria.” The feature explores how online hate and racism affect people’s everyday lives. The team followed three people in Vienna and complemented their personal accounts with insights from experts.

• TV & Video Category:
  Leon Spachmann and Xaver Schörghuber were honored for “Burnouts und geplatzte Reifen: So erlebt eine junge Frau die Wiener Tuning-Szene.” The report follows a 20-year-old woman to car tuning community gatherings and portrays the scene from her perspective.

• Text Category:
  Mario Pichler won with “Speed und Spachtel: Der Drogenkonsum auf Österreichs Baustellen nimmt zu.” Through the story of an anonymized subject, the report explores possible causes of drug use on construction sites, as well as its social consequences and safety implications.

• Multimedia Category:
  Daria Reitsammer, Sarah Lechner, Elina Wazik and Nina Schlögl received the award for “‚Ich weiß, dass er sie umgebracht hat‘ – Der Vermisstenfall Maria O.” The multimedia report reconstructs the disappearance of a young woman from Lower Austria in the 1980s. It traces why the case remained unsolved for decades and which questions remain unanswered to this day.

• Best Thesis Category:
  The special award for the best thesis went to Mario Pichler. As part of his Master’s thesis, “Verschwörungsmythen in alternativen Medien. Die Berichterstattung von AUF1 zur österreichischen Nationalratswahl 2024,” he created a 26-page print dossier titled “Glaubst?” Its design and visual language deliberately draw on elements of publications associated with conspiracy myths.

ORF, DER STANDARD, KURIER and Österreichische Medienakademie as Partners

The Young Journalism Award was presented with the generous support of partners from the media industry:

• ORF supported the Radio & Audio and TV & Video categories. Konrad Mitschka of ORF’s Public Value Competence Center presented the awards.
• DER STANDARD sponsored the Text category; Deputy Editor-in-Chief Nana Siebert presented the award.
• KURIER supported the Multimedia category. The award was presented on behalf of KURIER by Sieglinde Martin, Head of Department of Communication at FHWien der WKW.

Each of the four main category awards carries a cash prize of EUR 500. Österreichische Medienakademie (ÖMA), represented at the ceremony by Managing Director Nikolaus Koller, provided a place in a seminar for the winner of the Best Thesis category, in addition to the EUR 500 cash prize awarded by FHWien der WKW.

Visibility for Emerging Talent in Journalism

“The support of established media organizations underscores the Young Journalism Award’s standing in the industry,” says Daniela Süssenbacher, Head of Journalism & Media Management Study Programs at FHWien der WKW and chair of the jury. “It gives additional visibility to journalistic work produced during training. At the same time, the winning entries demonstrate the high standards the next generation of journalists brings to covering socially relevant topics.”

Jury of Experts from the Media and FHWien der WKW

The entries were evaluated by an independent expert jury comprising renowned journalists and experts from FHWien der WKW. The assessment criteria included journalistic craftsmanship, a creative approach to the entries and their social relevance.

About the Journalism & Media Management Study Programs

For over 20 years, the Journalism & Media Management Study Programs at FHWien der WKW have offered practice-oriented degree programs that prepare students to enter quality journalism. Two bachelor’s programs and one master’s program provide journalistic expertise in content production and media management. The focus is on closely integrating theory and practice. More than two-thirds of the lecturers come from the media industry, providing students with a particularly practical education.

Learn more about the Journalism & Media Management Study Programs

Images:

FHWien der WKW honored eleven emerging talents with the 2026 Young Journalism Award. The photo shows the award winners with members of the jury and representatives of the cooperation partners.
Download image
Copyright: Markus Hechenberger

ORF supported the Journalism Nachwuchspreis in the Radio & Audio and TV & Video categories. The awards were presented by Konrad Mitschka of ORF’s Public Value Competence Center.
Download image
Copyright: Markus Hechenberger

The award winners in the Multimedia category, supported by KURIER, with Sieglinde Martin (left) and Daniela Süssenbacher (right) of FHWien der WKW.
Download image
Copyright: Markus Hechenberger

FHWien der WKW – University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication

FHWien der WKW is Austria’s leading university of applied sciences for management and communication. Its Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs offer over 2,900 students a practical academic education. Two-thirds of the lecturers come directly from the business world. The close cooperation with local companies in teaching and research prepares students optimally for their careers. Since its foundation in 1994, FHWien der WKW has already produced more than 16,800 graduates.

Contact:

Bernhard Witzeling
Head of Corporate Communication, Marketing and Alumni & Career Services, Press Officer
Phone: +43 (1) 476 77-5733
presse@fh-wien.ac.at
www.fh-wien.ac.at