Lithuania establishes investigative journalism award with €200,000 prize

The Lithuanian Investigative Journalism Charity and Support Fund has launched the Pamatai award, an annual €200,000 prize for the best investigative journalism work published in the country, LRT reports.

The inaugural award will recognise the strongest investigative piece of 2025, with organisers stating the long-term initiative aims to strengthen investigative journalism in Lithuania. Funding comes from a dedicated €3 million endowment managed by the charity, with contributions from entrepreneurs including Justinas Baranovskis, Mantas Mikuckas, and Tadas Burgaila, as well as organisations like Tesonet Foundation and Contrarian Ventures.

Thomas Plantenga, CEO of Vinted and chair of the fund’s board, emphasised the resource-intensive nature of investigative reporting: “A strong democracy requires bold, independent journalism. By establishing this permanent award, we aim to foster a culture of accountability and transparency, ultimately strengthening Lithuania’s institutions.” The endowment, managed by Swedbank, is expected to grow to €6 million, with organisers inviting public contributions.

This year’s winner will be selected by a committee comprising journalists Marina Walker Guevara, Bastian Obermayer, and Birgitta Virnich, alongside academics, anti-corruption experts, and strategists. The Open Lithuania Foundation will administer the process, with the 2025 laureate announced on 8 June. Submissions must address significant public interest or democratic accountability issues in Lithuania.

Investigative works published in 2025 are eligible for the first edition of the award.