The Association of German Magazine Publishers (VDZ) is honouring Daphne Caruana Galizia and Slovakian Ján Kuciak posthumously with a “Golden Victoria 2018” for press freedom. The publishers said in a statement that the journalists’ assassinations following their work clearly demonstrate the consequences of the rising global threats towards journalists even within the EU. However, the fight of their surviving colleagues, family members and the public are a signal that the free press will not be silenced in times of crisis, but rather gains impact in new-found unity.
The “Golden Victoria 2018 for Press Freedom“ will be accepted by members of the families of both journalists on the evening of November 5th at the VDZ Publishers’ Night in Berlin. The laudation will be given by Düzen Tekkal, journalist and human rights activist. She herself has gained life-changing experiences in war zones.
The protection and defense of freedom of press and freedom of speech are two of the most important issues on the agenda of the magazine publishers. VDZ’s commitment to these fundamental rights goes beyond the annual award ceremony of the “Golden Victoria“, and extends to a year-round press freedom campaign, fighting for the rights of publishers and journalists.