Civio wins the grand prize in the innovation category at the 2026 European Press Prize

The Spanish investigative journalism organization Civio achieved a major success by being selected first in the innovation category at the 2026 European Press Prize. This prestigious award, which aims to raise journalism standards across Europe, was given to the organization, known for its data analysis and transparency-focused work. The success once again proved that independent and innovative journalism is increasingly valued in Europe. This award means the international recognition of the organization's years of work for the public's right to information and the public interest. Thus, a new milestone has been reached in the field of civic journalism.

As part of the European Press Prize, awards were given in a total of six different categories this year, and there was fierce global competition for each category. The categories generally cover the most critical areas of journalism, such as best investigation of the year, best opinion piece of the year, best visual story of the year, and innovation. The winning entries are meticulously selected from works that bring a new breath to the media sector, provide important information for the public interest, and demonstrate superior skill in storytelling. In this year's award process, the jury had to evaluate a large number of high-quality publications. In particular, the innovation category aims to highlight technological and methodological approaches that push the boundaries of classic journalism.

The interest and participation in these awards reached record levels this year, revealing how competitive the field is. According to officials, more than 800 applications from all over Europe and international media organizations were submitted for evaluation. The fact that the award-winning project stood out from over 800 strong applications clearly demonstrates the quality and originality of Civio's projects. This intensive application process emphasizes the importance given to quality and groundbreaking journalism in the European media. Even being able to reach the finals in this tough competition, where only six awards are distributed, is considered a great prestige in itself.

Civio, established as an independent civic initiative and a non-profit organization, brings a different perspective to the concept of innovation in the media. By using data journalism techniques, the organization analyzes complex public information and makes this data accessible in a simple language that society can understand. Through their research, they increase the transparency of government institutions and develop digital tools that allow citizens to audit public administration. This award they received is the biggest proof that they have created a brand new journalism language by combining the traditional understanding of journalism with modern data analysis and software technologies. This approach continues to be a source of inspiration for other organizations in Europe regarding media integration and data-driven journalism.

Undoubtedly, the organization's tireless investigative team and their long-term, determined work have a major share in achieving this success. Over the years, they have prepared in-depth reports enlightening the public on countless public tenders, political decisions, and environmental issues at local and national levels. Receiving such appreciation from an internationally renowned organization like the European Press Prize will be a great source of motivation for the organization to expand its vision and accelerate its unique projects. Furthermore, thanks to this award, international collaborations and new funding opportunities for strengthening independent journalism may also increase. For all independent platforms fighting for society's right to information, this victory is a historical indicator that accurate and transparent information will sooner or later be rewarded.