WASHINGTON (December 15, 2011) -- The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, announce Victoria Cook and Malgorzata Wojtunik as the 2011 grand prize winners of the Ronald D. Asmus Freedom Journalism Contest.

Read Winning Contestant Profiles

Reporting on the topic of democracy promotion in Belarus, Cook, from Johns Hopkins University, won the grand prize in the print category for her essay Stand and Applaud: The Courage of Belarus’ Revolution via Social Networks. Wojtunik, from the City University of New York, won the multimedia grand prize for her flash presentation Freedom in Belarus. Maximilian Seddon, from Columbia University, and William Schreiber, from George Washington University, were the graduate and undergraduate runner ups for the print category, respectively. Nadzeya Batson, from American University, was the multimedia runner-up.

Victoria Cook - Grand Prize, Print
Stand and Applaud: The Courage of Belarus' Revolution via Social Networks

Malgorzata Wojtunik - Grand Prize, Multimedia
Freedom in Belarus (Flash Presentation)

Maximilian Seddon - Runner-up, Print (Graduate)
The Pushkini Paradox

William Schreiber - Runner-up, Print (Undergraduate)
Lukashenko's War on Press

Nadzeya Batson - Runner-up, Multimedia
Struggling for Bits of Democracy (Audio Story)

The Ronald D. Asmus Freedom Journalism Contest was created through a partnership between the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The contest serves to promote U.S. graduate and undergraduate journalism students’ awareness of international affairs, particularly in connection with democracy promotion and human rights.

“The European Union and the United States share a common belief in the importance of democratic change in Belarus and the promotion of human rights, thus strengthening the stability of the European continent,” said Robert Kupiecki, Poland’s Ambassador to the United States. “Belarus and its people deserve freedom and democracy – just as other nations enjoy the benefits of life without fear and oppression.

“In thinking about Belarus, we in Poland remember our own difficult times in the 1980s, when democratic nations supported the ‘Solidarity’ movement and our striving for independence. Poland continues this mission of supporting independence today, meeting its moral obligation with the conviction that the engagement of all democratic nations is necessary to help Belarus and other nations fighting for their freedom. But before we act, it is key to understand what is happening and what we can do to help.” 

The contest is named in honor of the late Ronald D. Asmus, former executive director of the German Marshall Fund, who dedicated his career to the expansion of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and played a key role in the strengthening of transatlantic relations over the past two decades.

“Ron would be proud to be associated with these winners, especially as they are tackling issues close to his heart so early in their careers,” GMF President Craig Kennedy said.

A panel of five distinguished journalists -- David Case, GlobalPost; Steve Clemons, The Atlantic;  Mike Mosettig, The Newshour with Jim Lehrer; June Thomas, Slate; and Gregor Peter Schmitz, Der Spiegel --  judged the submissions on the basis of creativity, relevance, and depth of reporting.

A reception for the winners will be hosted by the German Marshall Fund on December 20, with remarks given by Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki and GMF President Craig Kennedy.