The Michael Kelly Award from <em>The Atlantic</em> is Awarded to Drew Philp for “There Will Be No Mercy” published in <em>The Atavist Magazine</em>

The Atlantic has awarded Drew Philp with the 23rd annual Michael Kelly Award for his investigative feature "There Will Be No Mercy." This feature, published by The Atavist Magazine in 2025, provides a comprehensive account of Ethiopia's two-year civil war, deemed one of the deadliest in recent history. The award was announced at The Atlantic Festival in New York City.

Philp's article delves into the conflict through the perspective of a single hospital, which became inundated with casualties as government forces indiscriminately targeted civilians, including children, in Tigray province. He interviewed doctors like Abraha Gebreegziabher, a pediatrician, who witnessed the chaos firsthand and questioned why powerful nations remained silent.

In his acceptance speech, Philp criticized the West for breaking promises and squandering nearly a century of goodwill. He expressed concern that the failure to uphold the rule of law and protect dignity would tarnish democratic values both at home and abroad. The award judges commended Philp's clear and poignant writing style, as well as the depth of his reporting on the Tigrayan people's suffering.

There Will Be No Mercy has previously won a National Magazine Award for reporting and a citation from the Overseas Press Club of America's Madeline Dane Ross Award. Philp, an independent journalist, will receive a $25,000 prize. The Michael Kelly Award, established in honor of the journalist killed in the Iraq War, recognizes journalists who exemplify the fearless pursuit and expression of truth.

Other finalists recognized this year include Elliott Woods from Texas Monthly, Emily Baumgaertner Nunn from The New York Times Magazine, and Elizabeth Weil from New York magazine's The Cut.