{"id":79939,"date":"2026-10-22T10:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T08:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/?p=79939"},"modified":"2026-10-22T18:52:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T16:52:42","slug":"award-of-excellence-for-jonathan-funk-at-cpoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/award-of-excellence-for-jonathan-funk-at-cpoy\/","title":{"rendered":"Award of Excellence for Jonathan Funk at CPOY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n\n
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Award of Excellence for Jonathan Funk.<\/h1>\n

The student has been recognised in the \u2018Portrait\u2019 category of the long-established College Photographer of the Year \u2013 for an image from north-eastern Syria.<\/p>\n

\r\n Michael Hauri<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n \"An\n \n <\/div>\n\n

Ahmed in the ruins of his home<\/strong> in Ali-Shar near the Turkish border, north-eastern Syria, July 2026. A Turkish drone strike destroyed the house.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Funk, a student<\/strong> on the \u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019<\/a> programme at Hochschule Hannover, has won an Award of Excellence at the 81st College Photographer of the Year (CPOY). The jury honoured his picture \u2018Ahmed\u2019<\/a> in the \u2018Portrait\u2019 category. It shows a man standing in what is left of his home in Ali-Shar, a village on the Turkish border. The house was destroyed in a Turkish drone strike. \u2018People are still being shot here at the wall. We had to move to the city,\u2019 says Ahmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPOY is regarded as the largest photojournalism competition for students worldwide. Cliff and Vi Edom founded it in 1945, and the Missouri School of Journalism still runs it today. Every year, around 600 students from more than 160 universities in almost 50 countries submit their work. Entry is free, and the judging is streamed live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The picture was taken in July 2026<\/strong> in north-eastern Syria. The region is also at the heart of Funk\u2019s ongoing project \u2018Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds\u2019, which explores the future of Rojava after the change of power in Syria. Earlier this year, the project won him the VGH Sponsorship Award<\/a>, which supports its continuation with 2,000 euros and mentoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funk has been studying in Hannover since 2023 and works mainly on long-term documentary projects. He also has professional experience in social work. His project \u2018Ortskontrollfahrt\u2019 on Germany\u2019s shift to the right has been exhibited internationally and published in SPIEGEL Wissen. In 2026, he was also shortlisted for the World Report Award in the student category. Find out more on his author page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Events for Prospective Students.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t

Between now and February, there are several chances in Hannover to talk to students and lecturers on the programme. If you can\u2019t make the trip, you can get advice online.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n\r\n\t

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Young Perspectives on Old Conflicts.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t

A picture editor, a satellite investigator, an XR producer and two photographers: on 10 November in Berlin, they\u2019ll discuss what kind of storytelling it takes for conflict reporting to be heard.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n\r\n\t

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Keeping the city clean.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t

Many waste workers wonder whether their bodies will last until they retire. HsH students photographed them at work, and ver.di is showing the pictures until 14 December 2026.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n\r\n\t

\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\"A\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n
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\n\tAwards<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t

Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 2026.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t

The HsH student receives the award for his essay \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019 about Munster, a small town shaped by the German armed forces.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n\r\n\t

\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n \n\n\n
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\r\n \"Five\r\n <\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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What are photojournalists allowed to photograph and publish? This guide explains the right to one\u2019s own image under German law, where press freedom ends and personality rights begin \u2013 and how to work on the right side of the law.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n

\r\n \"\"\r\n\r\n <\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\r\n \"\"\r\n\r\n <\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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\r\n \"In\r\n <\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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\r\n The dying river. <\/h3>\r\n\r\n
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Jonas Kako documents the water crisis along the Colorado River.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n

\r\n \"Sediment\r\n <\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n
\n TO THE MAGAZINE HOMEPAGE<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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