George Polk Awards 2025: Honoring Intrepid Journalism from Sudan to Body Parts Scandal
The George Polk Awards, honouring intrepid and influential journalism, announced its 2025 winners. Among them, a foreign correspondent risked his life to cover Sudan's civil war, a health reporter exposed commercial influences on bird flu response, and a TV team revealed the sale of unclaimed corpses' body parts without informing next of kin. The awards, now in their 76th year, recognised 15 winners from 493 entries.
The awards, sponsored by Long Island University since 1949, celebrate investigative and entrepreneurial work. This year, judges selected winners from a diverse range of media platforms, including specialty sites like Bellingcat, BuzzFeed, The Marshall Project, KFF, and STAT. These sites have emerged as respected voices in journalism, winning Polk Awards and gaining significant attention.
The 2025 winners include Sara DiNatale of the San Antonio Express-News, who exposed door-to-door solar panel scams, leading to new legislative bills. The awards also recognised a national TV team that exposed the sale of unclaimed corpses' body parts without informing next of kin. A foreign correspondent who risked his life to cover Sudan's civil war and a health reporter who uncovered hidden commercial factors affecting the government's response to bird flu also received awards.
The awards, honouring 'intrepid, resourceful, and influential' reporting, serve as a reminder of journalism's high purpose. However, the awards have seen a decline in submissions from once-strong regional papers and the emergence of visual investigation units using digital sleuthing and open sources to solve complex conundrums.
The George Polk Awards, with 3,140 awards given since 1949, continue to recognise outstanding journalism. The 2025 winners, selected from 493 entries by eleven anonymous judges, reflect the evolving landscape of journalism, from traditional newspapers to specialty sites. Their work serves as a testament to the power of investigative reporting and its impact on society.
