Meeting of the jury for the Manuel Vázquez Montalbán International Prize to debate candidates for this year's edition

After a year without getting together, today the jury for the Manuel Vázquez Montalbán International Prize for Journalism to reward journalistic careers in two areas: cultural and political journalism and sporting journalism. The second category is awarded by the Catalonia College of Journalists and FC Barcelona. 

During the meeting the jury put forward the necessity to carry out initiatives to consolidate the award which has been given out since 2004 in memory, and as a tribute to, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. Furthermore, it is the Club's wish to find a date around the celebrations for Sant Jordi and to solve the problems regarding the lack of continuity for the prize in recent years. The meeting this year too place exceptionally in the director's box at the Palau Blaugrana, used given that President Josep Suñol VIP box at Spotify Camp Nou is unavailable due to the current refurbishment of the stadium. 

Moreover, representatives from the jury were able to witness the building work for themselves at the Espai Barça, where at the moment the foundations are being positioned for the third tier of the future Spotify Camp Nou. 

During the meeting the jury evaluated the proposed candidates for this year's edition of the award and also discussed ways to raise the profile of the Manuel Vázquez Montalbán International Prize for Journalism. The winner will be announced in March and the award ceremony will take place at the Auditori 1899 around the time of Sant Jordi day in April. 

The jury for this edition is composed of Jordi Basté, Ramon Besa, Ernest Folch, Sergi Pàmies, Jaume Pujol-Galcerán, Borja de Riquer, Josep Maria Solé Sabaté, Santiago Segurola and Mònica Terribas. Also part of the jury but without a vote is the FC Barcelona institutional vice president Elena Fort, who was also present at the meeting. 

Previous winners of the Manuel Vázquez Montalbán International Prize for Journalism are:

• 2004 Patrick Mignon
• 2005 Joaquim Maria Puyal
• 2006 Juan Villoro
• 2007 Simon Kuper
• 2008 Candido Cannavò
• 2009 Ramon Besa
• 2010 Eduardo Galeano
• 2011 Santiago Segurola
• 2012 Nick Hornby
• 2013 Sergi Pàmies
• 2014 Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade ‘Tostão’
• 2017 Michael Robinson
• 2018 Emanuela Audisio
• 2019 Jorge Valdano
• 2022-23 Gary Lineker

*In 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021 the prize was not awarded.