Authors honoured for reportage on Italy - 30th Premio ENIT Media Prize awarded at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt am Main, 18 October 2024
The Premio ENIT media prize was awarded yesterday for the 30th time by the Italian National Tourist Board - this year in the fitting setting of the Frankfurt Book Fair with Italy as Guest of Honour 2024.
With this award, the Italian National Tourist Board honours special German-language media contributions about Italy as a travel destination and recognizes the commitment of journalists, authors and media professionals who describe the destination in all its facets, reveal hidden treasures and provide new impetus.
From a total of 128 entries submitted, the jury selected the winners for their reports on Italy as a travel destination in six categories: Travel Guide, Travel Feature Print, TV, Radio, Travel Blog and Podcast. It also awarded a special prize. The jury placed particular emphasis on contributions that show a lesser-known side of Italy, off the beaten tourist track, and shed light on new aspects of the destination. The creative presentation, style and information content also played a role in the selection.
The winners of the individual categories are:
Travel guide
‘Finally time for Veneto’ by Beate Giacovelli, Styria Buchverlag
Slow travelling between the rugged peaks of the Dolomites and the hinterland of the lagoon city of Venice is at the heart of this travel guide. It reminds a society characterised by social media and FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out, that true discoveries and the pleasure of travelling lie beyond the fast pace of life. The author, who lives in Veneto herself, provides a wealth of insider information, sheds light on new aspects of well-known cities, takes us to unknown places and is dedicated to culinary delights.
. The jury was also impressed by the creative presentation and the visual language with large-format photos.
Travel feature print
‘Wild Italy’ by Annette Reuther, Süddeutsche Zeitung
In her article about Abruzzo, the author talks about authentic, original Italy, about quiet, sometimes deserted villages and breathtaking nature, a region with ‘wild mountains and so beautiful that it is a miracle that it is still so unknown’. By contrast, picture-book villages such as Pietracamela on the Gran Sasso massif are suffering from the exodus of young locals. Annette Reuther introduces people who remain attached to their homeland and are committed to preserving its identity as well as to the gentle development of their surroundings.
Travel feature TV
The Adriatic by Caroline Haertel and Mirjana Momirovic, ARTE TV
This six-part TV production about the Adriatic, including three films about the Italian Adriatic coast from Trieste to Santa Maria di Leuca, is entertaining and reflects the multifaceted nature of the region. Between the familiar and the unfamiliar, the two authors tell stories of people who live and work on the Adriatic, in close connection with the sea, which they value and want to protect. True-to-life reports present the coasts off the beaten track and clichés in an extraordinary variety.
Travel feature radio
Comacchio - capital of the eels by Manfred Schuchmann, BR2 radioReise
In this travel feature, radio journalist Manfred Schuchmann presents the little-known province of Ferrara in the Emilia-Romagna region, with its small town of Comacchio. The report focuses on the lagoon as a unique natural oasis and refuge for numerous bird species, flamingos and fish such as eels. The documentary weaves together fascinating facts about the eel's habitat and the long tradition of eel fishing in the lagoon town. The calm narrative flow alternates skilfully with lively original sound bites.
Travelblog
Basilicata: Our guide to Italy's unknown jewel by Rebecca Hirsch, 22places
In her blog, the author presents a round trip through the southern Italian region and gives very good, practical tips for the road trip. She presents the ten best travel destinations in the Basilicata region, from the cave city of Matera to picturesque Borghi and the Lucanian Dolomites. The jury was also impressed by the clearly laid out, young layout with short sections, introductions that arouse curiosity and lots of extra tips.
Travel podcast
Trip to Trieste: Our must-sees and insider tips by Tinka Dippel and Silvia Tyburski, Merian Podcast ‘Travelling begins in the mind’
This stylistically well-made podcast conjures up images in the mind and takes its listeners on a short holiday trip to Trieste, a wonderful city with a great mix of cultures and influences from Austria and Slovenia. In addition to the wide range of information on culinary delights, religion, architecture and excursion destinations in the surrounding area, the jury also liked the pleasant narrative voices and the captivating descriptions in the dialogue with the podcast guest, editor Milena Härich.
Special prize
The Stars of Salina by Herbert Taschler and Udo Bernhart, Christian Verlag
The island of Salina - the second largest of the Aeolian Islands - is a scenic jewel and a culinary insider tip. The jury was won over by the concept: a cookery book that focuses on an unknown region with authentic descriptions of island life. A declaration of love to Salina, with the best recipes from Italy's youngest star chef, Martina Caruso. A well-thought-out book with impressive photos and stories that not only whets the appetite for travelling, but also for Salina.
The winners were honoured at the award ceremony in the presence of the Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio, ENIT President Alessandra Priante, the Italian government's extraordinary representative Mauro Mazza and invited guests for their special coverage of Italy as a travel destination.
‘Curiosity and passion are the hallmarks of the many tourists from Germany who come to Italy every year - and come back,’ emphasised Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio: ‘The figures show us this every year: in 2023, the visitor group with the highest presence in Italian accommodation establishments was once again German. For sure, certain guidelines of Italian tourism favour this attraction to Italy. The focus on sustainability, for example, is something that is particularly important to German travellers.’
ENIT President Alessandra Priante underlined the importance of the media reports: ‘With the Premio, we want to honour the power of storytelling about Italy as a travel destination, which enriches travel and motivates people to turn their wishes into reality. Telling the lesser-known places of our peninsula helps to emphasise the geo-cultural diversity and identity of Italy. It allows us to convey an Italy that offers countless unique experiences.’
‘With our award, we honour authors, journalists and travel bloggers for their lively reports on Italy. They make an important contribution to familiarising people with new Italian destinations and to cultural exchange. Cooperation with media representatives is an important part of our work to promote tourism in the German market,’ says Antonella Rossi, Head of ENIT Germany.
The Premio ENIT is under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Germany and takes place in cooperation with the Committee for Italy, Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024. The Premio was supported by the partners: Acetaia Giusti, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Federalberghi Ischia and Procida, Adesso, Der Feinschmecker, Merian and the tour operators Molisensi, Leitner Reisen and Secret Escapes.
The jury included Massimo Darchini, Italian Consul General Frankfurt; Anne-Siri Bähner, Head of Media Germany Secret Escapes; Rodney Cali, ITA Airways; Dr Ina Knoblauch, film producer and Chairwoman VDJ Hessen; Dr Caroline Lüderssen, Director German-Italian Association Frankfurt; Kiki Müller, Managing Director expert PR & HWM Communications GmbH.