What's New?

What's new ?

The European Union launches the
"Samir Kassir Award for freedom of the press" 2010

27 January 2010

The contest for the fifth edition of the "Samir Kassir Award for freedom of the press" is open to candidates from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf until 30 March 2010.

The "Samir Kassir Award for freedom of the press", which is awarded since 2006 by the European Union in collaboration with the Samir Kassir Foundation, honours the Lebanese journalist and writer Samir Kassir who was assassinated in 2005. It has grown in popularity since its creation, each year witnessing the participation of more candidates from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Gulf. The award rewards two journalists who have proved to be an example to others by the quality of their work in the two following categories:

- the best opinion article;
and
- the best investigative reporting article.

The contest is open to all journalists of the written press (daily, weekly, monthly and online press), who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Applicants must submit only one article related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).

The jury will be composed of nine voting members from media and civil society, and one observer representing the European Union. The names of the jury members shall be communicated during the prize-giving ceremony which will take place on 2 June 2010 in Beirut. The winner of each category will receive a prize of €12,500.

The contest regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following website: www.samirkassiraward.org

For any questions, a telephone line and an e-mail address are available to candidates:
Hotline: + 961 70 14 17 19
E-mail: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

Information for candidates

The contest complete regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following websites:

www.prixsamirkassir.org

www.samirkassiraward.org

The complete file has to be sent in either of these two formats:

By e-mail (in Word or PDF format), to arrive at the very latest on 30 March 2010 at the following address: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

By regular mail (in hard copy and on CD-ROM) in an envelope with the following texts: “Samir Kassir Award for freedom of the press” and “Opinion Article category” or “Investigative Reporting category", to be received at the latest on 30 March 2010 at the following address:

Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon
490 Harbor Drive Building, Charles Helou Avenue
Saifi – Beirut
BP 11-4008. Riad El Solh
LEBANON

For any questions, a telephone line and an e-mail address are available to candidates:
Tel: + 961 70 14 17 19
E-mail: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

Rules

The contest is open to all journalists of the written press (daily, weekly, monthly and online press), regardless of age, who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Applicants must submit an opinion article or an investigative article related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).
The article must have been published in a media of one of the countries listed above or one of the European Union member states.
The submitted articles must not exceed 25,000 signs and must have been published between 15 March 2009 and 15 March 2010.
Candidates can only apply for one category and on an individual basis (jointly-produced works will not be accepted).
The winner of each of the two categories will be awarded € 12,500.
The European Union may reproduce and publish the awarded article or report in its own publications (non-commercial) and in other publications related to the "Samir Kassir Award for freedom of the press".
The jury members, staff of the European Union and staff of Median are excluded from the contest.