Prix Média and Prix MultiMédia 2025 for Peace Research and Ocean Science

The Prix Média 2025 was awarded to Katharina Bochsler, Science Editor at Radio SRF, for her contribution "Heisse Konflikte: Die Wissenschaft des Friedens" (Burning Conflicts: the Science of Peace). Although highly relevant in societal terms, peace research is rarely the subject of media coverage. With her radio feature, Katharina Bochsler masterfully bridges the gap between a complex academic discourse and a tangible and understandable narrative. The judges particularly noted the reflective approach of the author, as Katharina Bochsler expressly directs attention to the scientific aspects while citing different socioscientific perspectives. "Heisse Konflikte" impressively demonstrates how powerful and relevant scientific journalism can be. The Prix Média is endowed with CHF 10,000.

Sebastian Broschinski (realisation, maps, visualisation), Christof Gertsch and Mikael Krogerus (research) have been honoured with the Prix MultiMédia 2025 for "Das erschöpfte Meer" (The Depleted Sea). The reportage "Das erschöpfte Meer” produced for Das Magazin publication takes readers on an exploratory odyssey which, through a variety of methods, researches, maps and predicts the condition of our oceans. Research, text and visual design intertwine perfectly in the online realisation, creating a vivid overall impression. The result is a work that imparts scientific findings in a tangible and, simultaneously, innovative manner through images, maps and visualisations. The Prix MultiMédia is also endowed with CHF 10,000.

In the public voting for the Prix Média Newcomer 2025, Balz Oertli’s contribution triumphed over Simon Maurer. Both candidates had already received a financial contribution from the Prix Média judges which they used to produce sophisticated media reports. In his "Hierzulande darf Geld alles" research (Money counts for everything in this country), Balz Oertli illustrates just how transparent political financing really is in Switzerland, and what we could learn from European standards. Simon Maurer illustrated the future of mRNA technology in his portrait series, relating how the Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó had influenced an entire generation of researchers. The Prix Média Newcomer is endowed with CHF 3,000.

This year's award ceremony is being organised in cooperation with the Swiss Association of Science Journalism (SASJ) and the European Federation for Science Journalism (EFSJ) and will be held on 24 October 2025 at 5 p.m. in the Stellwerk Bern. This occasion will also see the awarding of the European Science Journalist of the Year Award. The event will be framed by a panel discussion with Philipp Markolin who will report on his unnerving research into the laboratory accident theory associated with Covid-19. The event is open to the public and will be held in English.

Through the Prix Média, Prix MultiMédia and Prix Média Newcomer, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences honour excellent scientific journalism and acknowledge the important role journalists play at the interface between science and our society.