Kurt Schork Memorial Fund

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The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund exists to keep the world aware of the debt we owe to brave journalists who bring us news from dangerous places. Our annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism uniquely honor the work of freelance journalists and of local reporters in developing countries or nations in transition who often otherwise receive little recognition.

The KSMF board of directors is greatly saddened by the death of Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin in a shell attack in Homs, Syria, on Wednesday 22 February 2012. Marie knew Kurt and, like him, covered the conflicts in Kosovo and Sierra Leone. She was a supporter of the fund’s awards programme which honours the bravery of journalists – like Marie and Kurt – who cover difficult stories in dangerous places, despite great personal risk.

The attack that killed Marie also claimed the life of French photographer Remi Ochlik and wounded two other Western journalists: British freelance photographer Paul Conroy and Le Figaro journalist Edith Bouvier. All their families are in our thoughts.

The program is named after an American freelance journalist who died in a military ambush in Sierra Leone on May 24 2000 while on assignment for international news agency Reuters. Read more...

Each year, at a prestigious ceremony in London, we provide cash prizes to two journalists who produce the kind of reporting for which Kurt had earned widespread admiration. Read more...

The first awards were launched in 2001, after Kurt’s family, friends and colleagues set up the Fund with help from Reuters. We welcome donations to reinforce our work so that we can continue supporting these courageous but often unlauded news providers for years to come. Read more...