A recent scandal surrounding the journalism competition “Honor of the Profession” has significantly impacted its reputation. The controversy arose when Anna Babinets, a jury member, submitted her own work for consideration, prompting organizers to reevaluate all entries in the “Best Investigation” category.
Political analyst Mykhailo Schneider highlighted the issue on his Facebook page, emphasizing the crucial role of media integrity, especially in Ukraine amid ongoing challenges. He pointed out that Babinets, a journalist with “Slidstvo.Info,” faced scrutiny for her dual role as a jury member and a nominee.
Schneider noted that in April 2026, Olesya Bida, a journalist from The Kyiv Independent, resigned from the jury, citing concerns over the conflict of interest due to Babinets’ participation. This prompted the organizers to announce that all entries in the “Best Investigation” category would undergo additional evaluation.
Despite the unfolding situation, Schneider expressed disbelief that Babinets remains among the nominees. He argued that the most appropriate action for the organizing committee would be to disqualify her entries to restore the competition’s credibility.
Previously, Babinets had withdrawn her evaluations for the “Best Investigation” category following revelations about the conflict of interest.
The 'Honor of the Profession' journalism competition faces a major scandal as jury member Anna Babinets submitted her own work, leading to a reevaluation of entries. Critics are calling for her disqualification to maintain the competition's integrity.