Awardees

2019

Nicola Sturgeon

Scotland’s First Minister
Scotland

2018

Deniz Yücel

Turkey Correspondent
Die Welt
Germany

2017

Natalia Sindeeva

Founder and CEO
Doshd TV
Russia

2016

Roberto Saviano

Author and journalist
Italy

2015

Gérard Biard

Editor-in-chief
Charlie Hebdo
Paris

2014

Vitali Klitschko

Chairman
UDAR
Ukraine

YanukovychLeaks

Activist group and journalists
Ukraine

2013

Erdem Gündüz

Founder of the Dance Assembly of the University of Ege
Turkey

2012

Mario Draghi

President of the European Central Bank
Frankfurt/Main
Germany

2011

Michael Anti

Blogger
China

† Lord Weidenfeld

President
Institute for Strategic Dialogue
London

2010

Kurt Westergaard

Cartoonist
Denmark

2009

Hans-Dietrich Genscher

Former Foreign Minister of Germany

2008

Ingrid Betancourt

Franco-Colombian politician

2007

Bob Geldof

Musician, Africa activist and founder of Live AID

2006

Dr. Bernard Kouchner

Doctor and politician

2005

Lord Norman Foster

Architect and urban designer,

I am very moved, especially because I was not expecting to hear these words, which are like an embrace for me. So I want to thank you for this award, for the incredibly moving words of Giovanni di Lorenzo, for this wonderful sky that has welcomed me to Potsdam, and also to thank the Federal Chancellor for her touching words, and for her encouraging presence. Because the awareness raised heartens me a lot more than words. Roberto Saviano, M100 Media Award laureate 2016
It is a great honour for me to be here and receive this great price. It's a very big day for me. I thank Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dr. Joachim Gauck for the kind and strong words, and for their appreciation. Thank you, I will never forget this day! Kurt Westergaard, danish cartoonist, M100 Media Award laureate 2010
At the same time, today’s prize is an appeal to all persons who hold positions of responsibility in governments, in culture and in the media: be steadfast, value-oriented and also COURAGEOUS when irresponsible persons and powers undermine or relativise our values of freedom. It is a virtue to yield to a convincing argument, but it is cowardice to yield to a threat from enemies of freedom. Joachim Gauck in his laudation to Kurt Westergaard, 2010
I receive [this award] with an immense joy, happiness and humility also, because I think by being with you today here, I am receiving this price in the name of those who are still suffering in the jungle of Colombia and of those in the world that are living in similar conditions and who cannot speak for themselves freely. Ingrid Betancourt, M100 Media Award laureate 2008
But I have to say that in our modern society the media has a very, very particular responsibility, also for the European idea. And I hope that the event today – and the events which will follow – will help us to communicate better, to explain better and to convince people that Europe – and acknowledging all the problems, the mistakes and the deficits – […] that at the end of the day the idea of European integration is the best idea that we have ever developed in our history. Günther Verheugen, former EU-Commissioner, in his keynote speech 2005