The Hégető Honorka Awards were presented for the twentieth time

In 2024, a total of 72 video and 11 photo submissions were received for the competition established in memory of Honorka Hégető, a former editor-reporter of RTL, who passed away in 2001. The jury awarded six submissions, which, among other things, explored the state of the Hungarian school system, local government corruption and the phenomenon of the youth cult. This year, the jury awarded four equal prizes, a photographer’s award and the best first-time entrant award, and Yettel Hungary also awarded one work with a special award this year.

The Honorka Hégető Award went to Máté Szilágyi, deputy video columnist at Telex, who presented the impact of the youth cult on our culture in his report.

The award went to Noémi Zalavári, editor-reporter at RTL’s News Directorate, who spent months covering the story of a 9-year-old girl, Emma, ​​who was regularly verbally abused by her primary school teacher at a school in Fejér county.

The Honorka Hégető Award went to Róbert Báthory, senior investigative journalist at Szabad Európa in Hungary, who revealed irregularities surrounding EU funding for the construction of a reservoir in Mórahalom in his report.

Ádám Bihari, editor-reporter of the Budapest office of Free Europe, also received the award, for his winning work on the problems of the school system. Compulsory schooling at the age of six was introduced three years ago, as a result of which more and more children arrive at school immaturely, and there are more and more children with special educational needs, the report reveals.

This year, the jury also gave awards in a new category: the best first-time applicant award went to Cintia Krajnyik, a journalist for WMN, for her interview with constitutional lawyer Dr. Dániel Karsai.

The photography award went to photojournalist János Török, who presented the story of a woman from southern Hungary, Mária Káposzta, during her one and a half year fieldwork.

The Yettel special award went to Gerzson Nyárai, a 24.hu employee, and Boglárka Bicsák, a former 24.hu employee. Their report told the story of teacher Szilvia Ittzés, who went from an elite high school in Budapest to teach at a primary school in Pilis. In addition to recognizing the creators of the winning report, the mobile company also supports the cause brought to light by the entry, thereby drawing attention to the importance of the irreplaceable work of journalists.

The applications were judged and presented at RTL Liget by the jury members, Éva Keleti, Kossuth and Béla Balázs Award-winning photographer, Ildikó Enyedi, Béla Balázs Award-winning film director, screenwriter, and meritorious artist, Antónia Mészáros, UNICEF Hungary Executive Director, and Balázs Weyer, journalist and organizer of world music events.

The sponsors of the award are RTL Hungary, Yettel Hungary Zrt. and the Hégető family.

The award was designed by the artist Erzsébet Szilágyi.