Congratulations to our outstanding winners!
At Hostwriter, we are proud to champion emerging storytellers and provide a platform where journalists can showcase collaborative, impactful narratives that resonate with audiences across the world.
With the invaluable support of the Otto Sprenger Foundation and the guidance of our remarkable jury, we are thrilled to honor the diverse voices shaping our journalism today, from news creators who produce explainers to video podcasters and documentary filmmakers who are redefining storytelling in 2025.
This is a moment to recognize and celebrate journalists who transform rigorous research into compelling visual stories that inform and connect communities with their lived experiences.
Without further ado, meet the Hostwriter Creators Prize 2025 winners:
The Story Prize
In this category we called for collaborative news reportage, news documentaries or news interviews in video and film format or live streams. We nominated three winners from first to third place.
1st Place
Davide Mancini, Boaventura Monjane and Juan Maza submitted a cross-border investigation. For a year, they investigated the impact of the European paper industry, which is generally considered to be a sustainable alternative, yet creates a social and environmental disaster in Mozambique. Watch the full documentary: The price of Europe´s paper packaging boom
“We are very happy to receive the prize; it gives us energy to continue reporting! – This prize means shedding light on the people of Manica, in Mozambique — those who are claiming their lands, struggling for agrarian justice, and living their existence far removed from the final uses of paper pulp and from the habits of consumers in Europe and elsewhere. We dedicate this prize to them, in recognition of their unwavering resistance.”
the collaborative team
Juan Maza is a Visual Storyteller with work experience across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He has produced a wide range of formats for clients such as Deutsche Welle, ARTE, and El País. His work allowed him to live in diverse locations, including Ukhia, Bangladesh, and various African countries. He has covered major international events, including NATO Summits, national elections, and migration routes across the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Maza is currently based in Seville, Spain, working as a Video Production Coordinator at Mongabay. He holds a Master’s in Anthropological Research, using this foundation to explore the relationship between humans and nature.
Boaventura Monjane is a Mozambican journalist. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra. Monjane is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Poverty, Land, and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape. His research and interests focus on agrarian movements, rural politics, food sovereignty, climate justice, and corporate accountability. He was also a co-producer and investigator of the award-wining documentary film “Land of Plenty, Land of but a Few”
Davide Mancini is a freelance journalist specializing in environmental issues, focusing particularly on Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. He is part of the Ocean Reporting Network at the Pulitzer Center, with which he recently completed a year-long investigation into illegal fishing. Mancini has coordinated several cross-border investigations on topics such as wildfires and plastic and chemical pollution in aquatic ecosystems. He combines video, photography, and infographics in his work, and his reports have been published in national and international media in English, Italian, and Spanish. He holds a master’s in journalism from Aarhus University and Swansea University.
2nd Place
Aakriti Dhawan chose video podcasting as a “casual yet powerful format” to convey the experiences of Indian students in Germany, making a complex and often overlooked issue more accessible and “helping others understand the challenges of building life across cultures.” Watch the full video podcast here: What They Don´t Tell You About Being an INDIAN Student in Germany
“I am ecstatic to see something I’ve built on my own receive this kind of recognition. The podcast aims to foster an open dialogue and celebrate people who have gone Beyond Borders. It’s a platform to create, inspire, and shine.”
aakriti dhawan
Aakriti Dhawan is an Indian journalist navigating stories between Germany and India, working at the intersection of cross-cultural dynamics, crime, and gender. She hosts the Beyond Borders Podcast, where complex issues are unpacked through honest, conversational storytelling. When she’s not reporting or producing, she’s spending time with her dogs and drinking Kadak Chai.
“Can a complex story be unpacked in an accessible way for video audiences? Yes, and Aakriti’s podcast is a reminder of the importance of not only reporting stories – but also effectively bringing them to those who care about them.”
jury comment
3rd Place
Ronald Rodrigues’ and Robert Zargaryan’s investigation spans from border areas between Armenia and Turkey and northern parts of India, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. They revealed the exploitation of Indian migrant workers in Armenia, where immigrants seek jobs in food delivery, construction and cleaning and face the severe risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Watch the full documentary here: Scammed and left in limbo: Investigation reveals exploitation of Indian migrants in Armenia
“We are grateful to all the people who spoke to us. We are thankful this issue has been recognised and pushed in the public discourse. We wanted to draw light on the “hidden struggles” of migrants who are scammed by their kin or local agents in India with a promise of well-paid jobs in foreign countries but are left without any help in a transit country.”
“Mass immigration of the Indian people is a very interesting and sensitive topic to investigate, working on this story with Ron was a great experience! I feel very thankful that our work is appreciated!!”
ronald rodrigues and robert zargaryan
Ronald Rodrigues is a freelance journalist based in Central Europe who covers human rights violations, racial discrimination, migration, environment, and LGBTQIA+ rights mainly focusing on minorities, migrants and marginalised communities from the Global South.
Robert Zargaryan is a 28-year-old Armenian journalist, working for RFE/RL’s Armenian service for almost 7 years. I really love to dive deep into social and economic issues. The actual problems which concern the people in my country.
The Digital Explainers Prize
This category recognizes journalists producing exceptional explainer videos on platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Reels, X, and LinkedIn. Think, “news creators”. There are four equal winners in this category.
Instagram Reel
Sorana Horsia explains the significance of the recent death of Ion Illiescu, Romania´s first democratically elected president. She ties his conflicted legacy to hopes of justice after the 1989 revolution and 1990s student protests and Romania joining NATO amidst getting closer to the EU within the scope of a reel. Watch it here: Today, Romania is burying Ion Iliescu, its first democratically elected president.
“Yes, it’s a two-minute video, but it took a lot of work to make the story dynamic, concise, and clear for someone who isn’t from my country. Social media challenges us, as journalists, to focus on the essential and to be as clear as possible. I’m glad this kind of work is being rewarded!”
sorana horsia
Sorana Horsia is the editor-in-chief of GenZette, leading since 2024 a fully remote team that breaks down complex current events from Central and Eastern Europe and makes them easier to understand.
TikTok Video
Kayode Okikiolu paints a vivid picture of what Nigeria´s map would look like if all the proposals for the creation of new states passed into law, walking the viewers through the lawmaking process and explaining governance mechanisms for younger audiences. Watch it here: Imagining Nigeria’s Future Map with New States
“Independent Journalism can feel lonely on the best days but I don’t feel so alone anymore, thanks to this recognition by Hostwriter. I am motivated to create even more stories and empower many more people with the power of information.”
kayode okikiolu
Kayode Okikiolu is an award-winning Nigerian TV Journalist, transforming the way news is delivered through social media. Affectionately dubbed ‘Gentleman Of The Press’, he produces viral videos that distill complex stories into digestible formats. He has interviewed Presidents and global Leaders, reported live from the Russia-Ukraine war and continues to spotlight issues that affect Africa. Kayode spends his day as Senior Anchor & Producer with Channels Television and an Executive MBA student at the Lagos Business School. He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation.
Instagram Reel
For the last year, Sanaz Saleh-Ebrahimi has been reporting on the nutrition company More Nutrition and its founder Christian Wolf, defending her critical reporting against his defamation campaign and making science journalism very approachable. Watch her video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DII2cIxMdk8/
“I think it’s important that we as journalists stand up against attacks and defend our work. I’m very happy the Hostwriter jury recognizes my science journalism and I am super proud to be awarded this prize.”
Sanaz saleh-ebrahimi
Sanaz Saleh-Ebrahimi is a science journalist, news-anchor, documentary producer and content creator. She worked for big media organisations and broadcasters in Germany, among them ZDF, WDR, rbb, n-tv and Zeit Online. She teaches how to produce great social media videos and work in front of a camera – and hosts panel discussions and events. She also produces videos for her social media channels on nutrition, health and lies of the food industry for her 300k followers. You can find her on Instagram, on TikTok and on LinkedIn as well.
TikTok Video
Natalia Luján uses her platform to pick up topics she finds interesting and relevant to present them in a clear, visual, and engaging way. For her submission piece she informs about how mental health is a trending topic on social media, so that communities can reflect and take action. Watch her video: ¿Hacer memes sobre salud mental ayuda o trivializa los problemas?
“I’m grateful and excited to receive the Hostwriter Creators Prize. Creating journalism for centennial audiences is a challenge, especially since I research, produce and shoot every video all by myself. Still, I feel compelled to do it because I think it’s crucial to inform my generation with fact-checked info through formats that are accessible, visual, and meaningful.”
natalia luján
Natalia Luján is a journalist and digital storyteller from Guadalajara, Mexico. She focuses on centennial audiences through short-form videos, podcasts, and social-first explainers. Her work covers gender, health care, sexual diversity, climate change, and stories that show how young people experience identity, politics, and culture today.
We are seeing different styles and formats, but all winners share the same goal: making relevant and facts-based research accessible in creative ways.
The contributions are “great examples of how newsrooms can learn from creator-style, native video storytelling to stay relevant for their audiences.”
jury comment
Thank you for sharing your work with us and joining our community! We are looking forward to grow together as media professionals.