9th Edition of the Media and Democracy Karol Jakubowicz Award – Submissions Open

The Selection Committee affiliated with the Polish Communication Association has officially launched submissions for the 9th Edition of the Media and Democracy Karol Jakubowicz Award.

As in previous years, the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Editor and Associate Editors of the Central European Journal of Communication play an active role in recommending and nominating distinguished scholarly publications.

About the award

The Media and Democracy Karol Jakubowicz Award was established by Małgorzata Semil-Jakubowicz and the Polish Communication Association to honour the legacy of Karol Jakubowicz (1941–2013).

The Award recognises outstanding scholarly contributions in democracy, human rights, media ethics, media policy & public service media. These areas reflect the core intellectual interests and lifelong engagement of its Patron.

Since 2018, the Award has gained an increasingly international profile. It is supported by the Leadership Team of the International Association of Public Service Media Researchers (IAPMR), alongside the Editors and Associate Editors of CEJC.

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

The Selection Committee, previous Winners of the Award, and the academic networks of IAPMR and CEJC are invited to recommend and nominate scholarly works published in 2025 and 2026.

All submissions will be evaluated according to three closely interrelated criteria:

methodological correctness,
contribution to media and communication knowledge,
potential impact on democratic society.

The list of nominees will be published in April 2026. The Laureate will be traditionally announced on 28 April, marking the anniversary of the passing of dr. Karol Jakubowicz.

Special Distinction

As in previous editions, the Selection Committee is also considering awarding a special distinction for a publication of a journalistic or popularising nature that resonates socially in the field of media and democracy.

Further information about previous editions is available on the website of the Polish Communication Association.

_{Authors: Dagmara Sidyk-Furman}

_{Cover image by: Maja Sosnowska}