Winners of the 15th “Golden Pen” National Student Journalism Awards Announced

Art & Culture
b.unubold@montsame.gov.mn
2025-12-09 15:23:59

Ulaanbaatar, December 9, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The award ceremony for the winners of the annual national student journalism competition “Golden Pen,” organized by the Department of Journalism and Media Technology of the University of Humanities, was held on December 6, 2025.


The competition brings together students from universities and colleges that offer journalism programs, allowing them to compete in five categories: television program, radio broadcast, social advertisement, articles, and multimedia. The event aims to nurture future professional journalists, showcase student talent, and amplify their voices to the public.


This year, the 15th edition of the Golden Pen competition received 227 submissions from around 400 students representing seven universities. The article category saw the highest number of entries with 138 works, followed by 26 social advertisements, 27 television programs, 22 radio broadcasts, and 14 multimedia pieces.


The event was supported by the National University of Mongolia (NUM), the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture School of Film, Radio, and Television (MSUAC–KTMUS), Tenger Television, and unnu.news website. 


As a tradition, the festival also presents an “Audience Choice Award” for video and multimedia categories. This year, the award went to NUM students Kh. Nomin-Erdene, S. Gundegmaa, and B. Bilguun for their work “Tuuchee” (Forerunner / Trailblazer).


The judging panel included O. Ariuntuul (producer, Tenger TV), O. Ariunbileg (head of the NGO Journalism for Sustainable Development), B. Lkhagvatseren (editor-in-chief, unnu.news), S. Munguntuya (commentator, MNB Radio), and G. Dulguun (senior project manager, Viral Partners). Entries were evaluated based on content, structure, originality, and technical skill.


Winners of the Golden Pen Awards


Grand Prix: “Nadaas holdson ger” (The Home That Drifted Away from Me) — “Spark” team, NUM


Best Article

1st place: “Uvdsun setgeld emch baikhgui” (There Is No Doctor for a Wounded Heart) — B. Sainzaya, MSUAC

2nd place: “Oyutnuudad ajliin 20 tsag heregtei” (Students Need 20 Hours of Work) — S. Nandin-Uchral, UH

3rd place: “Khamgiin urt huleelgiin jagsaalt” (The Longest Waiting List) — T. Khulan, NUM


Best Radio Broadcast

1st place:  “Burkhan deer suusan ogotno” (The Mouse Sitting Beside God) — “Sankara” team, MSUAC

2nd place: “Khundiig uuruulj hunii erkhiig ni zurchsuur baikh uu” (Are We Still Violating Human Rights by Burdening People?) — Maral, Khulan, Buyan-Od, Amirlan, MSUAC

3rd place: “Khevlel medeelliin suuri bolovsrol gej yu ve, yagaad chukhal ve” (What Is Media Literacy and Why Is It Important?) — A. Dulguunzul, NUM


Best Social Advertisement

1st place: “Namaig bitgii martaarai” (Don’t Forget Me) — “Sunshine” team, NUM

2nd place: “Khundlel khun burt haragddag” (Respect Is Visible to All) — “Respect” team, UH

3rd place: “I Hate My ADHD” — B. Khaliunaa, UH


Best Television Program

1st place: “MoneyBall” — “Avuurid” team, UH

2nd place: “GenZ uyiinkhen khariutslagatai yu? (Are Gen Zs Irresponsible?) — S.Egshiglen, S.Nandin-Uchral, N.Nomin, UH

3rd place: “Tuuchee” (Forerunner/Trailblazer) — Kh. Nomin-Erdene, S. Gundegmaa, B. Bilguun, NUM


Best Multimedia Article

1st place: “Ur zeeleer ‘tetgedsen’ usvuriin judochid” (Teen Judokas ‘supported’ by Debt) — G. Munkhtsatsral, J. Ichinkhorloo, D. Myagmarjargal, Ts. Anujin, Kh. Anargul, MSUE

2nd place: “Amidrald alduulsan appuud” (Apps That Drain Life) — “Noname” team, UH

3rd place: “Mekhlegchded mekhluulekhgui” (Not Falling for the Scammers) — “Apollo” team, NUM


Audience Choice Award

“Tuuchee” (Forerunner / Trailblazer) — Kh. Nomin-Erdene, S. Gündegmaa, B. Bilguun, NUM


Best Work by Secondary School Students 

1st place: “Khandlaga” (Attitude) — A. Sanchirmaa, Khukhmorit Secondary School, Gobi-Altai aimag

2nd place: “Tsag khugatsaanii ursgal” (The Flow of Time) — S. Sarnai, School No. 119