Sauna Culture Story Wins Top Estonian Regional Journalism Award
Journalists from Pärnu Postimees won the top regional feature prize at the Jaan Tõnisson Postimehe Fondi media awards for an in-depth report on sauna culture, highlighting a ceremony that also celebrated achievements in Russian-language reporting and photography.
- —The Jaan Tõnisson Postimehe Fondi media awards ceremony recognized journalists across various categories, including best regional newspaper feature, best photo, and best Russian-language reporting.
- —Pärnu Postimees journalists Annika Auväärt and Mailiis Ollino won the award for best regional newspaper feature for their reportage on sauna culture.
- —Several journalists from Postimees's Russian-language edition received nominations and awards, highlighting their contributions in categories such as best Russian-language news and investigation, and best Russian-language opinion piece.
- —The awards, presented annually in February since 2020, aim to honor the legacy of Jaan Tõnisson and encourage contemporary journalism.
Recap
The Jaan Tõnisson Postimehe Fondi awards signal a deliberate effort within the Estonian media landscape to validate and promote journalism beyond the national mainstream. By specifically recognizing hyper-local regional reporting and the work of Russian-language outlets, the event reinforces the value of a pluralistic press, ensuring diverse voices and local narratives are integral to the country's public discourse.