Dunja Hayali and Sarah Tacke receive Hanns-Joachim-Friedrichs-Preis

ZDF journalists Dunja Hayali and Sarah Tacke have been awarded the 2026 Hanns-Joachim-Friedrichs-Preis for excellence in television journalism. The award, which honors critical and independent reporting, will be presented in Hamburg on November 5.

Dunja Hayali was recognized for her professional interviewing skills and her resilience in the face of digital hate campaigns and public hostility. The jury described her work as a “brave, successful model” of journalism that remains close to the people while maintaining a critical stance.

Sarah Tacke received the honor for her ability to explain complex legal, political, and social issues clearly. The jury noted her contribution to “truth and clarity in democratic discourse,” characterizing her work as “political, but not politicized journalism.”

Additional honors include a special prize for the NDR program Zapp for its coverage of controversial media topics, and a promotion prize for NDR journalist Manuel Biallas.