Call for Entries: Roche Prize for Health Journalism

Themes

• Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare: Papers that analyze gaps in access to healthcare and the factors that cause them, but also highlight implemented solutions, lessons learned, and transformative experiences that contribute to improving healthcare in different contexts.
• Prevention, diagnosis, and primary care: pieces that delve into effective and innovative strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and primary care. Community-based, collaborative, and area-based approaches will be especially valued.
• The value of innovation for healthcare: papers on technological and scientific advances applied to healthcare, their impact on patient care, and their contribution to the sustainability of healthcare systems.
• Women and Health: Stories that highlight women’s healthcare, the diseases that affect them differently, their role in healthcare, and gender gaps, as well as initiatives that seek to close these gaps.

Categories

• Written journalism: The best journalistic text published in a print or digital medium in any of the participating countries will be awarded.
• Audiovisual journalism: The best work in audiovisual format broadcast on television —whether open or closed — or published in digital media and environments will be recognized.
• Coverage: The best comprehensive and in-depth coverage of a current health and science topic will be highlighted, presented in a single format or in a combination of several.

Benefits

• They will also receive a trophy and a diploma certifying their recognition.

Eligibility Criteria

• The winner of each category (or a representative in the case of a group entry) will be eligible to participate, with all expenses covered, in the 2026 Gabo Festival, to be held in Bogotá, Colombia.

Evaluation Criteria

• Narrative Quality: Good use of language, narrative structure, creativity in the development of the work, and the use of narrative resources appropriate to the format in which it is presented (written, audiovisual, or multiplatform coverage) will be valued. The ability to tell a story in a clear, engaging, and rigorous manner will be especially appreciated.
• Technical and contextual mastery of the subject matter. Appropriate and understandable use of medical and scientific terms will be taken into account, as well as the correct contextualization of the topic within the field of health and science. Consideration will be given to solid research and consultation of specialized sources that support the information presented.
• Social relevance of the approach: The topic addressed will be assessed for its direct impact on society and its relevance to the current context of the countries nominated for the award (Latin America, Spain, and Portugal). Particularly highlighted will be works that highlight public health issues, care gaps, or transformative initiatives that affect specific communities or populations.
• Depth of Reporting and Research: The breadth of fieldwork, the diversity of sources consulted, and the way in which different points of view are integrated will be reviewed. Special consideration will be given to stories that address the topic from multiple angles and with an in-depth look, providing verifiable data and representative voices.
• Editorial independence and ethical principles Journalistic work will be considered to reflect autonomy in its production, without conflicts of interest, and to respect the ethical principles of the profession: truthfulness, responsibility, rigor, and respect for the people involved.
• Impact generated by the publication: The impact the work has had following its publication or broadcast will be assessed, including social, institutional, or legislative changes, raising awareness of problems, or generating public debate. Impact can be quantitative (scope) or qualitative (transformation).

Selection Criteria

• Verification: The Technical Secretariat of the Award, led by the Gabo Foundation, will review that each application complies with the competition rules.
• Pre-selection: Valid applications will be evaluated by a panel of pre-judges, who will select the works that advance to the final phase.
• Final Judging: A jury of experts will evaluate the shortlisted entries and decide which will be finalists, winners, or worthy of honorable mentions in each category.

For more information, visit Premio Roche.