Foreign journalists, media outlets, writers and bloggers have until October 4, 2026, to submit entries for the fifth International Media Award “Honest View,” a Russian competition recognising work about the country.
The award is organised by Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s federal agency for international humanitarian cooperation and engagement with compatriots abroad. It is open to authors and editorial teams whose work seeks to provide what organisers describe as objective, professional and balanced coverage of Russia, its people, culture, regions and international partnerships.
Entries may be submitted through the award’s official platform, honest-view.com. According to competition information published by organisers, eligible work may be submitted in any language if it was published in a media outlet or on social media between November 26, 2025, and October 4, 2026.
The 2026 edition features six award categories: the Grand Prix for contribution to objective coverage of Russia; Best Story on Economic and Social Partnership; Culture and Traditions: A View from Abroad; Professional View: Genre Journalism; New Voice, recognising work by young journalists; and Digital Recognition for the best social-media project about Russia.
Organisers said the competition has grown sharply since its early editions. In 2022, it attracted 118 journalists from 28 countries. By 2025, the number of submissions had risen to 821 from 75 countries, reflecting participation from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
Finalists and award recipients for the 2026 competition are expected to be invited to Moscow in November for an educational media school and the awards ceremony. Organisers have said the programme will offer participants an opportunity to present their work, engage with industry professionals and exchange experience with journalists and content creators from different countries.
The call for entries was highlighted at a September 2 press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Center. Irada Zeynalova, Russia’s ambassador to Mauritius, said the initiative sought to challenge what she described as stereotypical representations of Russia.
“We must teach our neighbors to see Russia as it is, not as stereotypes make it out to be,” Zeynalova said.
Igor Chayka, head of Rossotrudnichestvo, said participation had increased sevenfold over the award’s first four years, surpassing 800 entries. He said the award had developed into a platform for foreign journalists and bloggers interested in professional coverage of Russia.
The official award website says the 2026 prize fund totals 7 million rubles and includes cash and other prizes. It also states that the award is intended to support foreign journalists, authors and editorial teams reporting on Russia’s people, culture, science, regions and international cooperation.
Rossotrudnichestvo has urged eligible journalists, media organisations and digital creators to submit their work before the October 4 deadline.
