True Story Award Has Opened Submissions
Journalists may now apply for the 2027 awards cycle honoring excellence in reporting and storytelling.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Documentary
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The True Story Award has officially opened its submission portal for the 2027 cycle, seeking reports that demonstrate deep research and societal impact. Journalists worldwide are invited to submit their published work for consideration before the upcoming autumn deadline.
Why it matters
The awards aim to celebrate high-quality investigative reporting by recognizing excellence in research, narrative storytelling, and tangible societal contributions. By honoring diverse international perspectives, the program seeks to bolster the role of serious journalism in the global landscape.
An international jury of 45 members from 24 countries will evaluate submissions to select 36 finalists for the True Story Festival. Three winners will be chosen in each of the three award categories, with each recipient receiving a prize of USD 20,000.
The players
True Story Award
This is an international journalistic organization that promotes excellence in reporting through its annual festival and competition.
The details
Applicants must submit reports published in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms during the eligibility window. Authors of the 36 best-selected submissions will receive invitations to present their work at the True Story Festival in Bern, Switzerland.
Timeline
Eligible reports must have been published between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
The deadline for all award applications is October 31, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The True Story Award functions as a critical platform for non-fiction journalism in an era dominated by fleeting digital media cycles. By centering its operations around the True Story Festival in Bern, the organization reinforces the necessity of deep-dive narrative reporting.
Journalists interested in participating must ensure their published work meets the specific dates set for the 2027 cycle. The process culminates in a festival in Bern where selected participants will present their narratives to an international audience and jury.
The takeaway
Serious journalism remains a vital component of global discourse, providing necessary depth in a media environment that often favors speed. Professionals aiming for recognition should focus on reports that prioritize both rigorous investigative research and narrative quality.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving landscape of long-form journalism, visit our Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The ICIR- Latest News, Politics, Governance, Elections, Investigation, Factcheck, Covid-19.
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