KRONIKA: Against
Oblivion Journalism Award
For journalism that revives lost stories, preserves fragile evidence, reflects
on traumatic pasts, and documents
the present.
March 12, 2026
World Day Against Cyber Censorship
KRONIKA: Against
Oblivion Journalism Award
For journalism that revives lost stories, preserves fragile evidence, reflects
on traumatic pasts,
and documents
the present.
Open Call Deadline
February 26, 2026
NEXT AWARD
March 12, 2026
— World Day Against Cyber Censorship
What This Award Is
What This Award Is
In a time when erasing memory has become a tool of authoritarian politics, archival journalism is an act of resistance.
This award honors work that not only speaks the truth — but ensures it is remembered.
In a time when erasing memory has become a tool of authoritarian politics, archival journalism is an act of resistance.
This award honors work that not only speaks the truth — but ensures it is remembered.
WE AIM TO
Support authors who preserve
testimony under censorship,
war, and repression.
Support authors who preserve testimony under censorship, war, and repression.
Support authors who preserve testimony under censorship, war, and repression.
Highlight memory work as activism
and commemoration.
Highlight memory work as activism
and commemoration.
Russian-language journalism focused on the post-Soviet period
(1991–present)
Russian-language journalism focused on the post-Soviet period (1991–present)
OPEN TO
Text, multimedia, podcasts, documentaries, data investigations, archival storytelling, digital repositories, interactive and experimental formats.
Text, multimedia, podcasts, documentaries, data investigations, archival storytelling, digital repositories, interactive and experimental formats.
ACCEPTED FORMATS
Russian-language journalism focused on the post-Soviet period
(1991–present)
OPEN TO
Text, multimedia, podcasts, documentaries, data investigations, archival storytelling, digital repositories, interactive and experimental formats.
ACCEPTED FORMATS
Russian-language journalism focused on the post-Soviet period
(1991–present)
OPEN TO
Text, multimedia, podcasts, documentaries, data investigations, archival storytelling, digital repositories, interactive and experimental formats.
ACCEPTED FORMATS
Selection Criteria
Projects should focus on the post-Soviet period and do at least one of the following:
Revive forgotten or erased stories
and return suppressed topics to the
public sphere.
Document what may soon disappear — fragile materials, testimonies, online content at risk of erasure.
Analyze mechanisms of forgetting: how facts, archives, names, and evidence vanish.
Create tools of memory: databases, repositories, films, podcasts, digital archives.
Open access to closed archives, testimonies, or vulnerable sources
Selection Criteria
Projects should focus on the post-Soviet period and do at least one of the following:
Revive forgotten or erased stories
and return suppressed topics to the
public sphere.
Document what may soon disappear — fragile materials, testimonies, online content at risk of erasure.
Analyze mechanisms of forgetting: how facts, archives, names, and evidence vanish.
Create tools of memory: databases, repositories, films, podcasts, digital archives.
Open access to closed archives, testimonies, or vulnerable sources
How the Award Works
The inaugural award is selected by the internal Kronika team jury:
Anna Nemzer
Journalist and writer; founder of the Russian Independent Media Archive and Kronika. For many years has worked on documenting contemporary Russia and strengthening independent media.
Ilya Veniavkin
Historian; co-founder of the Russian Independent Media Archive and Kronika. Specialist in memory studies, trauma, and post-Soviet history; lecturer at Bard College.
Vera Shengelia
Journalist and human rights advocate; Director of Institutional Partnerships at Kronika. Has spent over 20 years working with issues of social exclusion, vulnerable communities, and their representation. Researcher and lecturer at Bard College.
The award becomes regular
and quarterly (four times a year).
Winners are selected by an independent jury of journalists, archivists, historians, and human rights defenders.
2025
23 NOV —
FIRST AWARD
2026 -
ONWARD
23 NOV —
FIRST AWARD
How the Award Works
The inaugural award is selected by the internal Kronika team jury:
Anna Nemzer
Journalist and writer; founder of the Russian Independent Media Archive and Kronika. For many years has worked on documenting contemporary Russia and strengthening independent media.
Ilya Veniavkin
Historian; co-founder of the Russian Independent Media Archive and Kronika. Specialist in memory studies, trauma, and post-Soviet history; lecturer at Bard College.
Vera Shengelia
Journalist and human rights advocate; Director of Institutional Partnerships at Kronika. Has spent over 20 years working with issues of social exclusion, vulnerable communities, and their representation. Researcher and lecturer at Bard College.
2026 -
ONWARD
The award becomes regular
and quarterly (four times a year).
Winners are selected by an independent jury of journalists, archivists, historians, and human rights defenders.
2026 March Laureates
2026 March Laureates
Mediazona — Dmitrii Shvets and Mika Golubovsky
Mediazona — Dmitrii Shvets and Mika Golubovsky
“The rise and fall of the ‘Heroes of the Surgut Land’. How the Russian state works with memory of soldiers who died in the war with Ukraine”
“The rise and fall of the ‘Heroes of the Surgut Land’. How the Russian state works with memory of soldiers who died in the war with Ukraine”
An investigation into how Russian authorities construct and control public memory about soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine.
An investigation into how Russian authorities construct and control public memory about soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine.
Anna Kuzmina —
Anna Kuzmina —
The podcast “She Said: No”
The podcast “She Said: No”
A documentary podcast exploring the history of women’s anti-war resistance—from the Soviet war in Afghanistan to contemporary movements in Russia and Belarus.
A documentary podcast exploring the history of women’s anti-war resistance—from the Soviet war in Afghanistan to contemporary movements in Russia and Belarus.
Award Structure
Award Structure
Each quarter, the jury may recognize
one or several laureates.
Each quarter, the jury may recognize
one or several laureates.
Awards will be presented publicly, and funds will be transferred legally to the winners’ bank accounts.
Awards will be presented publicly, and funds will be transferred legally to the winners’ bank accounts.
The minimum prize amount
is USD 1,000.
The minimum prize amount
is USD 1,000.
How Selection Works
How Selection Works
Starting in 2026, the winner is chosen
by an independent jury of historians, archivists, journalists, and editors.
Starting in 2026, the winner is chosen
by an independent jury of historians, archivists, journalists, and editors.
The Kronika team continuously monitors the field, reviews submissions, and adds strong works to the longlist.
The Kronika team continuously monitors the field, reviews submissions, and adds strong works to the longlist.
A longlist of up to 10 pieces is compiled every three months.
A longlist of up to 10 pieces is compiled every three months.
JURY
The shortlisted works were evaluated by an independent jury composed of journalists, historians, and researchers working on issues of memory and public history:
The shortlisted works were evaluated by an independent jury composed of journalists, historians, and researchers working on issues of memory and public history:
Alexey Ponomarev — journalist and podcaster.
Natalia Morozova — human rights defender, co-chair of the Memorial Human Rights Defence Center.
Andrei Zavadski — researcher specializing in memory studies and public history.
Alexandra Polivanova — translator and curator of educational and memory projects.
Elena Korchmina — historian and associate professor at the University of Bologna.
Alexey Ponomarev — journalist and podcaster.
Natalia Morozova — human rights defender, co-chair of the Memorial Human Rights Defence Center.
Andrei Zavadski — researcher specializing in memory studies and public history.
Alexandra Polivanova — translator and curator of educational and memory projects.
Elena Korchmina — historian and associate professor at the University of Bologna.
Send an email or Telegram message with the subject “Nomination — Kronika Award”
Send an email or Telegram message with the subject “Nomination — Kronika Award”
HOW TO SUBMIT
Send an email or Telegram message with the subject “Nomination — Kronika Award”
HOW TO SUBMIT
link to the published work
publication date and format
brief explanation of why it fits the award criteria (2–4 sentences)
link to the published work
publication date and format
brief explanation of why it fits the award criteria (2–4 sentences)
YOUR SUBMISSION
SHOULD INCLUDE