Sophie von der Tann to receive Katharina-Zell-Preis amid criticism

Sophie von der Tann, a former ARD correspondent, has been selected to receive the Katharina-Zell-Preis 2026. The award, presented by the Landesverband Evangelische Frauen in Hessen und Nassau, is scheduled for September 7 in Frankfurt.

The jury praised von der Tann for her “courageous and fearless commitment” to reporting on the Gaza war and her ability to provide a “factual and understandable classification” of the conflict. In addition to this award, she is set to take over a partnership for the German Human Rights Film Prize.

However, the decision has faced criticism. Filmmaker Rita Knobel-Ulrich issued an open letter contesting the award, alleging that von der Tann’s reporting lacked objectivity. Knobel-Ulrich argued that the coverage was one-sided and questioned the reliability of visual materials coming out of the Gaza Strip, noting that Hamas maintains significant control over information and imagery in the region.