Semmelweis-Richter Journalism Award Regulations

Article 1: The Award

The Semmelweis-Richter Journalism Award for Excellence in Women’s Health and Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation, with a special focus on cardiovascular therapies, hereafter referred to as the “Award,” is organized and implemented by Semmelweis University and sponsored by Gedeon Richter Plc.

Article 2: Award Structure

The Award includes a total of €45,000, divided equally between two categories:

  • Women’s Health Category: €22,500, awarded as follows:
    • 1st place: €10,000
    • 2nd place: €7,500
    • 3rd place: €5,000
  • Pharmaceutical Strategies and Innovation, with a special focus on cardiovascular therapies: €22,500, awarded as follows:
    • 1st place: €10,000
    • 2nd place: €7,500
    • 3rd place: €5,000

Each winner will also receive a physical award recognizing their significant contributions to journalism in these fields.

Article 3: Eligibility

1. Individual freelance journalists or teams of two or more journalists, as well as journalists employed by media organizations, with at least three years of professional experience, actively or previously engaged in impactful reporting on women’s health and the pharmaceutical industry, are eligible to apply.

2. Eligible applicants must reside in the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican.

3. By submitting the application, applicants agree to the following:

  • The applicant declares that the publication submitted as an entry (the “Work”) does not contain any text generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). If it is later discovered through verification that this statement is false, it will be deemed as misleading the organizer, the applicant will lose the right to the award, and may be required to repay the awarded amount.
  • Statement of the applicant that the English translation of the original publication (if not in English) is materially and formally consistent with the original work. If this statement is subsequently found to be false, it will be deemed as misleading the organizer, the applicant will lose the right to the award and may be required to repay the awarded amount.
  • The applicant declares that the applicant is submitting their own original Work and guarantees that no one else holds copyright or any other rights that would prevent or restrict the use of the Work, nor does it infringe or limit any personal or proprietary rights. The Organizer and the Sponsor are not obligated to verify the existence or extent of the applicant’s rights as author, and the applicant bears all liability for any damages resulting from any lack thereof. The Organizer and Sponsor shall not bear any financial or legal responsibility with respect to the copyright holders of the Work, including authors as well as any other persons involved in the creation or other entitled parties. In the event of any claim enforced by a third party against the Organizer and/or the Sponsor the applicant shall be directly liable on behalf of the Organizer and/or the Sponsor —particularly but not exclusively related to ownership, proprietary rights, copyright, or personal rights—, as the Organizer and the Sponsor are exempt from liability in this regard. Additionally, the applicant agrees and grants the right to use the Work for competition and evaluation purposes free of charge for two (2) years and without any further additional conditions or territorial restrictions, including recording, downloading, viewing, storing, reproducing, and evaluating it against other Works, creating copies, and publicly communicating it on the website (https://semmelweisrichteraward.com) to promote the goals of the competition with the assistance of a jury appointed by the Organizer and the Sponsor.
  • The applicant unconditionally and explicitly consents to their name being displayed alongside their Work for the duration of the competition and at the announcement of results.
  • By accepting the Regulations, the applicant expressly acknowledges and declares that these provisions constitute the content of the license agreement between the applicant, the Organizer, and the Sponsor regarding the use of the Work.
  • The applicant acknowledges and agrees that if the Organiser and/or the Sponsor conclude(s) a separate licensing agreement with the applicant, as the awarded participant, for the use of the awarded Work, the applicant, as the awarded applicant shall grant to the Organizer and/or Sponsor a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty free, no-charge sub-licensable license to use the awarded Work for any and all purposes, which includes all known manners , including in particular to reproduce, publish, distribute, copy on computer or electronic storage, transmit to third parties, publicly perform, publicly display or otherwise communicate to the public (including in particular publishing on the website: https://semmelweisrichteraward.com ), or use it for other copyrighted work, in any number of copies and times. This right of use is granted for a period of five (5) years from the conclusion of the licensing agreement, and includes the right to adapt (e.g., through translation).

If it is later discovered through verification that this statement is false, it will be deemed as misleading the organizer, the applicant will lose the right to the award, and may be required to repay the awarded amount.

Article 4: Application Process

1. Announcement: Semmelweis University will launch the call for applications on the dedicated website: https://semmelweisrichteraward.com

2. Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 9 June 2026, 23:59 CET / may be submitted between April 1, 2026 and June 9, 2026, 23:59 CET

3. Eligibility Window: Submitted Works must have been published between 1 March 2025 and 31 March 2026.

4. Submission Limit: Applicants may submit a maximum of two Works (published articles) – one per category – on Women’s health and Pharmaceutical Strategies and Innovation, with a special focus on cardiovascular therapies.

5. Format: Applications must be submitted electronically via the form on the dedicated website: https://semmelweisrichteraward.com.

6. File Requirements: Applicants may be asked to provide higher-quality files if shortlisted.

7. Submission Details:

– For print publications: a scanned version of the Work; for online publications: a publicly accessible link and a word or PDF version of the Work.

– Works must be in English or in the original language accompanied by an English translation.

– Each entry must include:

  • Title of the Work: original and/or English translation
  • Summary of the Work, between 1,500 and 3,000 characters in length, in English.
  • Professional profile of the author (applicant’s professional career overview, importance of the topic in the author’s view, previous publications in the topic), between 1,500 and 3,000 characters in length, in English.
  • Date of publication of the Work
  • Name of the media outlet that published the Work
  • Country of publication of the Work
  • Category (Women’s health and Pharmaceutical Strategies and Innovation, with a special focus on cardiovascular therapies) in which the entry is submitted
  • Contact information of the applicant (e-mail and phone number)

Article 5: Jury

A jury of experts in journalism, Women’s health and Pharmaceutical Strategies and Innovation, with a special focus on cardiovascular therapies will evaluate the applications and select the winners.

Article 6: Selection Procedure

1. Ranking: Each jury member will rank applications that meet submission criteria and submit their rankings to Semmelweis University.

2. Finalists: The highest-ranked entries in each category will be shortlisted.

3. Winners: The top three entries per category will receive the award. In case of a tie, the jury will vote to break the tie.

4. Notification: Winners and non-winners will be notified about the results on the email address provided on the submission form by 31 July 2026.

5. Award Ceremony: The Awards will be presented at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2026. Winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony.

6. Travel and Accommodation: Semmelweis University will cover travel and accommodation expenses for the six winners.

7. Award Disbursement: Award payments will be made within 80 days of the official announcement of results and receipt of all required payment details from the winner.

8. Winners must confirm the notification email about their Award and provide written acceptance of the Award via email by responding to the email address specified in the notification. In case a Winner does not do so within 10 business days it will result in the forfeiture of the Award, and an alternate winner will be selected.

9. Winners must fill out and sign the Declaration of Residence form provided by Semmelweis University and send it, together with a tax residency certification issued by the tax authority of their respective country, in reply to the notification email about the prize. In case a Winner does not do so by 15 September 2026, it will result in the forfeiture of the Award, and an alternate winner will be selected.

Article 7: Amendment of Regulations

Semmelweis University reserves the right to unilaterally amend these Regulations.

If you require additional information or encounter any issues, please feel free to contact us at: press@semmelweis.hu