Free Press Unlimited has announced the winners of the Free Press Awards 2025, recognising two journalists whose work exemplifies courage, resilience and commitment to the public interest under extreme pressure. AlMigdad Hassan from Sudan received the Newcomer of the Year – Hans Verploeg Award, while Azerbaijani journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva was honoured with the Most Resilient Journalist Award.
The awards highlight journalists who continue to report independently despite serious risks to their safety and freedom. From a wide pool of nominees, the jury selected the winners based on the impact, quality and perseverance of their work, emphasizing their role in defending press freedom and ensuring access to truthful information in hostile environments.
Ulviyya Guliyeva was awarded the Most Resilient Journalist Award for her unwavering dedication to journalism despite prolonged and unjust detention in Azerbaijan. While imprisoned at the Baku Detention Center, she has continued reporting without access to medical care, documenting human rights violations, interviewing fellow political prisoners and ensuring that suppressed voices remain heard.
Over the course of her career, Guliyeva has produced hundreds of reports and articles on human rights issues, political repression and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. She has also directed several documentaries addressing social inequality, women’s rights and discrimination, demonstrating a sustained commitment to human rights-focused storytelling even in the face of repression.
The Newcomer of the Year – Hans Verploeg Award was presented to AlMigdad Hassan, one of the few Sudanese journalists who remained in Khartoum after war erupted in 2023. Using minimal equipment, he delivered frontline reporting from active combat zones, providing rare and vital coverage of the conflict for regional media outlets and reaching global audiences.
Hassan’s reporting shed light on the humanitarian impact of the war and brought international attention to a largely underreported conflict. His work, produced under constant danger, reflects the role of journalism in documenting suffering and preserving truth during times of crisis.
Free Press Unlimited also acknowledged all nominated journalists, noting that each demonstrated exceptional integrity and courage. The awards were presented during Free Press Live on 3 February in The Hague, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to press freedom and the protection of independent journalism worldwide.
