Reports on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the exception of Burkina Faso for the written press, won all the first prizes of this 29th edition, where Afghanistan also occupied a central place.

Winner pictured with Evgeniy Maloletka of Associated Press (AP) for their report on the bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol, Mstyslav Chernov (Video Image Prize) paid tribute to the civilian populations of the conflict: "It's not so much about journalism only victims".

“Journalism will always be less important than the people who are suffering, we were able to get out of Mariupol, not everyone was so lucky, it was essential that the original material could get out with us,” he continued. .

With a serious face, Mr Maloletka hailed the fact that "the hope of Ukraine is visible", it is "very important that journalists speak" of the invasion.

"My hometown, Berdyansk, is occupied, I am returning from the front and this area is destroyed, there has already been too much bloodshed, it is time to end this conflict", he added, before the audience rises to applaud them.

The public photo prize also goes to an AP photoreporter, Vadim Ghirda.

"Eyes Are Afraid"

In the written press, the first prize of the international jury is awarded to Mariam Ouedraogo for her report in Burkina Faso "Axe Dablo-Kaya: la route de l'enfer des femmes", published by Sidwaya, which describes the terrible journey of women raped in the grip of a road plagued by two terrorist groups.

Maurine Mercier (France Info - RTS) awarded at the 29th edition of the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy prize, on October 8, 2022 in Bayeux Lou BENOIST AFP

In duplex from Ouagadougou, moved, she let go with a smile to be "afraid of having an asthma attack, so much (she did not) expect to receive this prize".

The Prix Ouest France Jean Marin went to Nicolas Delesalle for "Ukraine, the convoy of the last chance" published in Paris Match, where the story of a mother who must choose who to send abroad and save among her own.

In television, Théo Maneval and Pierre Dehoorne win the first Amnesty International prize for "Viktor and the kiss of war" in Ukraine for France 5, where we follow a Ukrainian father and son who went into hiding for three days under their house to escape the Russian occupier.

"This last quote + the eyes are afraid but the hands act + demonstrates the state of mind" of the civilians on the spot, declared Théo Maneval at the award ceremony.

The large-format prize goes to Philip Cox of The Guardian for "The Spider-Man From Sudan".

On the radio side, the international jury awarded the landing committee prize to Maurine Mercier (France Info - RTS) who had collected the testimony of a mother and her daughter on "two weeks of rape and terror in Boutcha", again in Ukraine.

"Courage is those who testify who have it" she declared, in a cathedral silence after the 1,200 people present under the marquee of the Bayeux pavilion heard these chilling testimonies.

© 2022 AFP