It is the children’s view of the war, masterfully told by Michela Iaccarino on Famiglia Cristiana, which conquers the foreground of the XXXI edition of the “UCSI Christmas” National Journalism Award. The journalist won the main prize for the Press section with the reportage “War through the eyes of children”, a touching journey to Sarajevo in the only museum in the world dedicated to children in conflicts.
In the service awarded by the jury – which this year chose exclusively female winners – simple objects such as diaries, puppets and clothes become a powerful denunciation against the horror of war, uniting the conflicts of the past with the current ones of Ukraine and Gaza.
The recognition for Famiglia Cristiana is part of a broader framework of “good news” which will be celebrated on Saturday 20 December 2025 in Verona. The stories selected from the 146 nominations tell of courage, inclusion and redemption.
Alongside Michela Iaccarino, the award (supported by Fondazione Cattolica, Fondazione Banca Popolare di Verona and other partners) valorised other excellences in journalism:
TV: The award went to Laura Meda (èTvMarche) for the story of a teacher who teaches Italian to the foreign mothers of her students, a concrete example of integration.
Radio: Rita Pedditzi (RAI Radio 1) won by describing the solidarity tailoring “Fili di Speranza” in Ladispoli, where work helps women mend their lives.
Young people (Targa Athesis): Caterina Aurora Malanetto (Lastampa.it) was awarded for the story of Pauline, a refugee who found her redemption through cooking in Turin.
Genius of the woman: The special prize was awarded to Agnese Pellegrini (Credere) for the portrait of Sister Giulia Leone, a religious motorcyclist who runs a shelter for women victims of violence.
Journalists and society: Lucia Capuzzi (Avvenire) received recognition for its courageous work from Haiti, where it documented the rebirth of an orphanage in the midst of civil war.
The jury also awarded two special mentions to Anna Laura Folena (Giornale AIL Verona) and Silvia Piasentini (Telepace Trento), for services dedicated respectively to the fight against leukemia and the removal of architectural barriers.
