2024 Winner
Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Nikolov is winners of the 2024 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism. The 2024 Nieman Fellows recognized Nikolov for showing that independent watchdog journalism for the public good is possible even in a country at war, where media outlets operate under tight restrictions and where reporting on government corruption is particularly sensitive. The fellows added: “Nikolov’s high-profile corruption investigations into alleged graft in the Ukrainian military shine a light on the importance of watchdog reporting even in the most dire of circumstances. At great personal and reputational risk, Nikolov’s reporting has asked for accountability in the use of public funds, even while his country continues to fight Russia’s invasion.”
About the Award
Nieman Fellows in the class of 1964 established the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism in May 1964 to honor the Nieman curator who retired that year. The award recognizes displays of conscience and integrity by individuals, groups or institutions in communications.
Each class of Nieman Fellows decides whether to present the award during their Nieman year.
Lyons, the second curator of the Nieman Foundation, had a distinguished career as an editor and reporter before he came to Harvard to join the first class of Nieman Fellows in the fall of 1938. He served as curator of the foundation from 1939 until 1964, expanding the fellowship in a number of significant ways including opening the program to women, people of color and international journalists.
The Nieman class of 1964 selected Vietnam correspondents as the first recipient of the Lyons Award. The class of 1965 gave the award posthumously to broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, and the class of 1966 honored Wilson Minor of The New Orleans Times-Picayune.
No awards were made again until 1981, when the program was reinstituted by Curator James C. Thomson Jr. and given posthumously to Joe Alex Morris Jr. of the Los Angeles Times, who was killed while covering the Iranian Revolution.
A plaque that hangs in Walter Lippmann House, home of the Nieman Foundation, records the name of all winners. The award carries a $2,500 honorarium.
Winners
| 2024 | Ukrainian investigative reporter Yuriy Nikolov For showing that independent watchdog journalism for the public good is possible even in a country at war, where media outlets operate under tight restrictions |
| 2023 | Iranian Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammedi For their steadfast commitment to producing courageous journalism about issues in Iran affecting women, including the 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini |
| 2022 | Rukhshana Media For its unwavering commitment to covering the women of Afghanistan, who have been silenced and terrorized under Taliban control |
| 2021 | The Caravan For its uncompromising coverage of the erosion of human rights, social justice and democracy in India |
| 2020 | Centro de Periodismo Investigativo For the relentless pursuit of the truth and exposing issues that might otherwise go unreported and for holding the powerful accountable through work that has directly impacted the politics of Puerto Rico. Videos |
| 2019 | Marisa Kwiatkowski, The Indianapolis Star For her years of work exposing shortfalls in systems designed to protect children as well as her contributions to the team that reported exhaustively about the sexual abuse charges brought against Larry Nassar, formerly the team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a physician at Michigan State University. Videos |
| 2018 | Elena Milashina, Novaya Gazeta For her ground-breaking and persistent investigative reporting on human rights abuses in Russia while enduring threats from powerful figures. Videos |
| 2017 | Lewis W. Diuguid, The Kansas City Star For his commitment to excellence in journalism and his efforts to promote newsroom diversity, civil rights, social justice and equality Videos | Speech Transcript |
| 2016 | Yang Jisheng, Chinese author For his work that speaks to the effort of every journalist globally who faces enormous obstacles in reporting. Videos |
| 2015 | Hasan Cemal, Turkish journalist For championing a free press in Turkey and in honor of all Turkish journalists working under adverse conditions. Videos |
| 2014 | Pamela Colloff, Texas Monthly For tenacious investigations into wrongful convictions, which exposed deep flaws in the criminal justice system Videos |
| 2013 | Marcela Turati, Proceso magazine For her professional excellence and leadership at a time when Mexican journalists face grave peril in covering the drug war |
| 2011 | Mohammad Nabbous, killed in Libya 2011 For all those like him who spread the news of the “Arab Spring” uprisings |
| 2010 | Mohamed Olad Hassan, British Broadcasting Corporation, The Associated Press For courageous reporting and an enduring commitment to the people of Somalia |
| 2009 | Lasantha Wickrematunge, Sri Lankan editor For daring to stand up, at the cost of his life, for freedom of the press and human rights Journalists of Afghanistan For their bravery in delivering the news from one of the most dangerous reporting environments in the world |
| 2009 | Fatima Tlisova, independent journalist For bearing witness to the hidden truths of a violent place |
| 2008 | Chauncey Bailey, Oakland Post For his fearless investigative reporting and tireless advocacy for the black community William Worthy, Baltimore Afro-American For daring to blaze a path in coverage of global news |
| 2007 | Hu Shuli, Caijing magazine For determined reporting on stories of dire importance to the world |
| 2006 | Atwar Bahjat, Al Arabiya-TV Posthumous award for bravery in describing life in her native Iraq |
| 2005 | Shahla Sherkat, founding publisher, Zanan magazine For covering politics and domestic abuse of Iranian women |
| 2004 | Zhanna Litvina, Belarus founder, Association of Journalists For keeping Belarus’s journalists sane and safe |
| 2003 | Mark Chavunduka, founding editor, The Zimbabwe Standard For his struggle for independence that rallied journalists in Zimbabwe |
| 2002 | Committee to Protect Journalists For its commitment to aid journalists in peril |
| 1998-2001 | No winners |
| 1997 | Goenawan Mohamad, founding editor, Tempo magazine, Indonesia For courage in publishing news despite government repression |
| 1996 | Raymond T. Bonner, The New York Times For fearless, independent foreign reporting |
| 1995 | Olatunji Dare, editorial chair, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria For resigning rather than bow to government terms of self-censorship |
| 1994 | Abdelhamid Benzine, editor, Alger Republicain, Algeria For his struggle for a free press despite being forced into exile |
| 1993 | Journalists of Oslobodjenje, (Liberation) in Sarajevo For keeping their newspaper alive despite Serbian attacks |
| 1992 | Jean Mario Paul, Radio Antilles Internationale, Haiti For reporting on corruption despite government intimidation |
| 1991 | Max du Preez, South Africa Gitobu Imanyara, Kenya For efforts to gain national democratic freedoms while facing threats to life |
| 1990 | Colombian Journalists For reporting on Colombian drug wars despite threats and murders of colleagues |
| 1989 | Helena Luczywo, Polish underground journalist For reporting objectively, despite dangers facing a clandestine paper |
| 1988 | Monica Gonzalez, Chilean journalist For courageous reporting despite Pinochet’s attempts to silence her |
| 1987 | Zwelakhe Sisulu, South African editor For giving black South Africans a voice during Apartheid |
| 1986 | Violeta Chamorro, La Prensa For her efforts to keep a free press alive in Nicaragua |
| 1985 | Allister Sparks, London Observer, The Washington Post For courageous and meritorious reporting from South Africa |
| 1984 | Maria Olivia Monckeberg, Analisis Magazine For coverage of Chile despite government attack and arrest |
| 1983 | Tom Renner, Newsday For documenting organized crime’s reach into the lives of Americans |
| 1982 | Joseph Thloloe, South African journalist For refusing to compromise ideals despite a repressive regime |
| 1981 | Joe Alex Morris Jr., Los Angeles Times, killed in Iran, 1979 For his fairness and untiring quest for truth |
| 1967-1980 | No winners |
| 1966 | Wilson F. Minor, The Times-Picayune For investigative reporting that opened doors of a closed society Ralph Nader For Unsafe At Any Speed, an investigation of auto safety of the highest order |
| 1965 | Edward R. Murrow, CBS News For his courage in confronting Senator McCarthy |
| 1964 | Vietnam Reporters: Neil Sheehan, UPI; Malcolm Browne, AP; David Halberstam, The New York Times For reporting the truth |