Małgorzata Szejnert Wins the Cogito Award

Małgorzata Szejnert has been named winner of the first edition of the Cogito Public Media Award, given to the author of the best Polish book of the year past. Szejnert was honoured for “The Black Garden” – a book of reportage on some Silesian workers’ districts (Giszowiec and Nikiszowiec) and the residents of Silesia.

The award-giving ceremony took place on Monday, at the National Theatre in Warsaw. The winner received a statuette and 200,000 PLN.

Małgorzata Szejnert is a journalist and a graduate of the University of Warsaw. She co-created  “Gazeta Wyborcza," and for 15 years ran its reportage department. Szejnert’s “Black Garden” is also nominated for this year’s Nike Award.

The Public Media Awards, established by Polish Television and Polish Radio, are being distributed for the first time this year. The awards were initiated in April; they will be handed out every year in two categories (Opus and Cogito).

The Public Media Awards were established in co-operation with the Polish Writers’ Association, the Polish PEN Club, and the Polish Composers’ Association. Members of these associations sit on the jury for the award.