In an age of mass information and misinformation, the role of journalists is more important than ever. Our societies rely on the core values of journalism - truthfulness and objectivity - to stay informed and shape opinions.
One Young World believes that the next generation of young journalists are paramount to creating powerful and meaningful change, providing the essential means to ensure freedom of speech and defence of rights are justly upheld in all regions worldwide.
The One Young World Journalist of the Year Award was created in 2020 to identify and promote five of the world's most impactful journalists changing how stories are reported and having a positive global impact.
Meet the 2025 winners
The One Young World Journalist of the Year Award recognises three of the world's most promising journalists aged 18 to 35. The award highlights the work of young journalists who are creating powerful and meaningful change, providing the essential means to ensure freedom of speech and ensuring human rights are justly upheld in all regions worldwide.
These 3 young journalists have all been selected as winners based on the influential work they have carried out in their countries and communities.
The winners were selected from a shortlist by One Young World’s expert judging panel and will be presented with this award at the One Young World 2025 Summit.
Salma Niazi
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times
Salma Niazi
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times
Salma Niazi is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times, an independent media outlet amplifying the voices of Afghan women. Based in Dublin, Ireland since January 2024, Salma continues her work in exile after being forced to flee Afghanistan in February 2022 following the Taliban's return to power. She remained in hiding in Pakistan for nearly two years before resettling in Ireland.
Nilesh Christopher
Journalist
Nilesh Christopher
Journalist
Nilesh Christopher is a journalist reporting on the societal impacts of technology and AI— how it empowers, harms, and reshapes communities.
Leandro Amaya Camacho
Leandro Amaya Camacho
Leandro Amaya Camacho is a Peruvian journalist, descendant of the pre-Columbian Sechura culture. He specializes in the Amazon, Indigenous rights, the environment, oceans and tracing illegal economies. His work is known for a systemic and human-centred approach that seeks to understand territories from within in order to tell powerful and transformative stories.
Meet the judges
The One Young World Journalist of the Year Award was created in 2020 to recognise ground-breaking journalists under the age of 35 from around the world. Launched again this year, it continues to celebrate courageous young leaders who have shown considerable commitment to inspiring and empowering others through their work, and changing the way stories are reported in often turbulent journalistic landscapes.
The expert judging panel has been invited by One Young World to choose three winners who have created meaningful global impact through exceptionally crafted reporting and who are passionate about the rights to freedom of thought, expression and speech.
The judges for the 2025 award are:
Ilia Calderón
Ilia Calderón
Ilia Calderón is the lead anchor of Univision Network’s flagship weekday evening newscast, “Noticiero Univision.” Calderon previously anchored “Aquí y Ahora,” Univision’s primetime newsmagazine, and in July 2023 was host of the true crime show “Señales de Crimen” on the streaming platform ViX.
Antonio Zappulla
Antonio Zappulla
Antonio Zappulla is CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the corporate foundation of the global news and information services company. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, the Thomson Reuters Foundation combines its unique services to advance media freedom, raise awareness of human rights issues, and foster more inclusive economies working as a strategic player in the international development space.
Orla Guerin
BBC’s Senior International Correspondent
Orla Guerin
BBC’s Senior International Correspondent
Dublin-born journalist Orla Guerin is the BBC’s Senior International Correspondent, based in Istanbul. She is a multi-award-winning veteran foreign correspondent with BBC News, who has held a succession of high-profile postings. In recent times Orla has played a prominent role in the BBC’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.
She is an Honorary Professor of International Journalism at the National University of Ireland in Galway (NUIG).
