In 2024, a total of 72 video and 11 photo entries were submitted to the award program launched in memory of Honorka Hégető, a former editor and reporter of RTL who died in a car accident in 2001. The jury granted the award to six entries, which dealt with the current status of the Hungarian school system, local government corruption and the youth cult phenomenon, among others. This year, the jury awarded four equal video awards, a photographer's award and an award for the best first entry, while Yettel Hungary also granted a special award to one entry.
The Hégető Honorka Award went to Máté Szilágyi, deputy video columnist at Telex, for his report presenting the impact of the youth cult on our culture.
The second winner was Noémi Zalavári, editor-reporter for RTL News, who spent months working with a 9-year-old girl, Emma who was regularly verbally abused by her primary school teacher in a Fejér County school.
The third winner was Róbert Báthory, senior investigative journalist for Szabad Európa in Hungary, who has been selected for the award for his report on the corrupt practices surrounding an EU grant funding the construction of a water reservoir in Mórahalom.
The fourth winner, Ádám Bihari, editor-reporter of the Budapest editorial office of Szabad Európa, covered the problems of the school system in his report. According to the report, more and more children are entering school immature and more children with special educational needs are diagnosed three years after the compulsory schooling age was reduced to six in Hungary.
This year, the jury has selected a winner in a new category: the award for the best first entry went to Cintia Krajnyik, journalist for online portal WMN, who made an interview with constitutional lawyer Dr. Dániel Karsai.
The photojournalist award was given to János Török, who during his 18 months of fieldwork followed the story of Mária Káposzta, a woman in Southern Hungary.
Yettel’s special award went to Gerzson Nyárai of 24.hu and Boglárka Bicsák, former 24.hu staff member. In their report, they told the story of Szilvia Ittzés, a teacher who went from an elite high school in Budapest to teach at a primary school in Pilis. In addition to recognising the creator of the winning video, the mobile operator also supports the cause that the entry had brought to light, raising awareness of the irreplaceable work of journalists.
The entries were evaluated by jury members Éva Keleti, Kossuth and Balázs Béla Award-winning photographer, Ildikó Enyedi Balázs Béla Award-winning film director, screenwriter, and Renowned Artist, Antónia Mészáros, Executive Director of UNICEF Hungary, and Balázs Weyer, journalist and organizer of world music events who presented the awards to the winners in RTL Liget.
The sponsors of the award program are RTL Hungary, Yettel Hungary and the Hégető family.
The Hégető Honorka Award plaque was designed by artist Erzsébet Szilágyi.