MDR report wins journalism prize

The MDR report "It's complicated - The East in the media" has been honored with the "medienspiegel" journalism award. The author duo Anett Friedrich and Christoph Peters received the award for transparent journalism in Weimar, according to the Initiative Tageszeitung (ITZ).

The television documentary describes the image of East Germans that has been created by an often West German perspective in reporting. It can be viewed in the ARD media library until October 3.

In his laudatory speech, jury spokesperson Anton Sahlender praised the critical and transparent treatment of the topic. The reportage is a remarkably lively and diverse summary of the media's complicated dealings with the people, society and politics in East Germany. It encourages media professionals to reflect on themselves.

The award has been presented by the Association of Media Ombudsmen (VdMO) and the ITZ since 2016. According to the announcement, the aim is to "promote self-reflection, the ability to self-criticize and the willingness to be transparent in the media and to strengthen public perception".