Barcelona, 3 July 2026 – The Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists has joined the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) to launch the first edition of the Euro-Mediterranean Women in Journalism Award, an unprecedented recognition dedicated to excellence in gender-sensitive, solutions-oriented journalism across the region.

The award celebrates reporting that not only reflects a gender-sensitive lens but actively encourages cross-border collaboration among journalists working across the Euro-Mediterranean space. It is carried out in partnership with the Anna Lindh Foundation, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), whose representatives will form the jury tasked with selecting the winning submission: Anna Lindh Foundation president Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali, IEMed executive president Senén Florensa, and María Ángeles Samperio, chair of the IFJ’s Gender Council.

The competition is open to women journalists from UfM Member States. Both individual submissions and collaborative work are accepted, provided a woman is the primary credited author and women make up at least 50% of the contributing team. Entries must engage with at least one of the UfM’s four sectoral priorities: gender equality, youth engagement, inclusion of persons with disabilities, higher education, research and innovation; environment, green and blue economy, urban development and transport; climate action, energy and water resilience, disaster risk management; or employment, trade, investment, industry and digital transformation.

The winner will join the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists and receive full sponsorship to attend the Network’s in-person networking and training event, as well as the award ceremony itself.

Applications are open until 13 September 2026 at 23:59 (CET). Full eligibility details and the application form are available on the UfM Secretariat’s website.