Leipzig – November 07, 2026 -- The MDR documentary "Nationalparks – Brandherde und Naturparadiese?", produced for ARTE, has won the 2026 German-Czech Journalism Prize in the Multimedia category. Author Bettina Wobst received the award on 6 November 2026 in Frankfurt am Main.
Report examines wildfire pressure on national park protection concepts
The film uses Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland to show how climate change, drought and more frequent large fires strain national park protection concepts. It frames the core conflict as whether national parks protect nature or also endanger the people living in and around them.
Wobst, a filmmaker based in Dresden, travelled the German-Czech border region. In the Czech village of Mezná she met a couple who lost their home in the summer 2022 wildfire. They believe inadequate fire prevention and large volumes of dead wood helped the fire spread.
Cross-border fire experts test drone-based early detection
The film also follows wildfire experts Louis Georgi and Jaroslav Hocko, who work across the border in the national parks. They develop strategies for early detection and firefighting, coordinate response routes and rely increasingly on drones. A new fire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park in spring 2026 put their concepts to another test.
Jury and MDR editor stress balanced perspectives
The jury praised the report as relevant, informative and constructive, and as impartial in tone. Responsible editor Martin Hoffmann said the film presents both critics and supporters of the national park so that each side's view is understandable. He added that the search for a balance between nature conservation and fire protection is typical of many European regions.
The prize has honored German and Czech media professionals since 2016 for reporting on the neighboring country without clichés. It covers text, audio and multimedia entries. The Czech-German Future Fund and the journalists' associations of both countries, Deutscher Journalistenverband and Syndikát novinářů, present the awards.
The report, first dated 16 June 2026, is available in the ARD Mediathek.