Across the world, early-career reporters are interrogating systems that shape daily life, from mortuaries and classrooms to the corridors of legal education and bringing evidence to the public. From the 681 stories submitted by 227 journalists across 60 countries for this year’s Thomson Young Journalist Award, three finalists have been selected for their rigour, courage and impact.
“It was difficult to select just three,” said Corriere della Sera journalist Paola de Carolis, who was part of the Foreign Press Association (FPA) judging panel. “We really enjoyed the energy and skills of these young journalists. So much bravery and determination shone through the work.”
The finalists
Tracy Bonareri Onchoke — Kenya
In Blocked at the Bar, Tracy investigates why so many Kenyan law students are failing the bar exam, probing opacity and standards in legal training and what this means for access to justice.
“By exposing a system that left thousands frustrated, financially drained and locked out of their dreams, I wanted to highlight how compromised legal training threatens not only individual futures, but access to justice for the entire country,” she says.
She gathered powerful testimonies from affected students, helped focus attention on the Council of Legal Education and the story has been cited by students in tribunal hearings.
Tracy, 26, is a journalist at Africa Uncensored and her work blends digital investigations with on-the-ground reporting across health, gender, corruption, sport and human rights.
Wangu Kanuri — Kenya
Wangu documents what extreme heat is doing to learning at a primary school in Turkana in north west Kenya: blistered feet on long walks to class, snake scares and classrooms that trap unbearable heat. For her, this story puts a face to the climate crisis and shows its direct link to education and health. “It highlights how children, our most vulnerable citizens, are bearing the brunt of a climate emergency,” she says. Contrasted with the silence from officials, her reporting sparked a national conversation in Kenya.
At 28, Wangu is a human-interest multimedia journalist and contributor to Nation Media Group whose reporting spans gender, climate change, health and everyday life. She works across print, video and audio formats and is currently a CNN Academy “Voices from the South” fellow.
Godwin Asediba — Ghana
Godwin’s Troubled Morgue exposes inhumane conditions inside a major mortuary in Accra, from decomposing bodies to untreated wastewater, sparking public outcry, attention in parliament and funds being set aside for renovation. “It mattered to me because dignity in death is as vital as dignity in life,” he says.
Godwin, 29, is an investigative journalist, producer and news anchor with TV3 and 3FM, focusing on hard-hitting documentaries that amplify marginalised voices. “Being shortlisted for the 2025 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award confirms that stories I risked everything to tell can change policy, save lives and inspire others,” he added.
Why these stories matter
Deborah Kelly, Director of Training and Communications at Thomson Foundation, says the three finalists illustrate public interest reporting at its best. “The stories are people-centred and the journalists are unafraid to ask hard questions,” she adds. “Their journalism doesn’t just reveal problems, it helps communities and institutions see a path to change.”
The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year is run in partnership with the UK Foreign Press Association (FPA). Finalists are invited to London for newsroom visits and the FPA Media Awards on 24 November 2025. The award is open to journalists aged 30 and under working in countries with a Gross National Income per capita of US$20,000 or less.
