Kristoffer Kold Erlandsen has become the first deaf journalist to win a prestigious investigative journalism award at the Grävseminariet in Kristianstad, according to SVT Nyheter. Erlandsen, a reporter for Nyhetstecken who is currently on leave to complete his journalism education at JMK in Stockholm, received the award alongside his study colleagues Fabian Ahlbom and Calle Resare. The trio won the Association of Investigative Journalists' Studentspaden 2025 award for their investigative report 'Bakom den gröna fasaden' (Behind the Green Facade), which was published in Aftonbladet.
The jury praised the eight-month investigation for using creative methods to track how a company that claims to protect the environment instead contributes to dangerous emissions. The award ceremony took place at the Grävseminariet in Kristianstad, marking a historic moment as Erlandsen is reportedly the first deaf journalist to be nominated and win at the event.