(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 8 February 2000 IFJ press release: THE IFJPRIZE 2000: A CELEBRATION OF TOLERANCE IN JOURNALISM IFJ Media Award To Promote Media Awareness of Racism and Xenophobia Issues The International Federation of Journalists will present three European Media Awards in 2000, one for the written press and two for the […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 8 February 2000 IFJ press release:
THE IFJPRIZE 2000: A CELEBRATION OF TOLERANCE IN JOURNALISM
IFJ Media Award To Promote Media Awareness of Racism and Xenophobia Issues
The International Federation of Journalists will present three European Media Awards in 2000, one for the written press and two for the audio-visual sector – one for radio and the other for television. The awards will celebrate quality journalism which contributes to better understanding within European multicultural society. The awards will recognise journalism which gives a fair and balanced picture of the world and raises awareness of the role media play in maintaining the social and democratic fabric of multicultural society.
The awards will be presented at a special session of the European Media Forum on May 3rd 2000 to be held at the European Parliament, Brussels. The initiative to launch the IFJPrize came in 1996 as part of the project programme of the International Media Working Group Against Racism and Xenophobia (IMRAX), bringing together media organisations, policy makers and unions of journalists to discuss ways of heightening professional awareness and tolerance in media.
During the European Year against Racism the IFJ and media employers in Europe played a leading role in bringing media into the front-line of debate about the issue of tolerance in society. An historic world-wide conference of journalists from 70 countries on the theme Prime Time for Tolerance was organised in Bilbao during May 1997 and in July European broadcasters, publishers and journalists issued a declaration calling for improvements in journalistic training, media recruitment and newsroom performance related to reportage of ethnic and migrant issues.
Journalists struggle to provide ethical, reliable and pluralist information when covering war and social conflict – whether in Bosnia, Algeria or Central Africa. During the 1990s there have been cases where media have been used by ruthless political leaders as weapons of propaganda to support violence and intimidation.
Even in relatively peaceful societies ethnic, religious or social conflict remain at the top of the news agenda. New forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance are emerging all over the world.
The IFJ encourages accurate and reliable journalism which reflects plurality and integrity in information sources. Journalists should always seek the truth; media must try to be fair. Sometimes these high standards are not possible, but there is no excuse for ignorance, willful disregard of discrimination and failure to expose political charlatans who exploit peoples’ fears.
The IFJPrize is supported by the European Union, the Council of Europe, the European Broadcasting Union and the European Newspaper Publishers Association.
The IFJPrize is open to all journalists and programme makers working in any journalistic medium. The only restriction is that the work has to be published or transmitted during 1999.
The awards will be presented on May 3rd 2000, the World Press Freedom Day, in Brussels at the European Media Forum — an event at which senior journalists, media experts, NGO’s and others will discuss the role of media in contributing towards understanding the threats posed by intolerance, racism and xenophobia.
The closing date for entries is 29th February 2000. Entries must be in English, German, French, Italian or Serbian Croatian, or with a translation in one of these languages.
Send applications to the IFJ Headquarters.
Further information from IFJ, 266 rue Royale,
1210 Brussels. Tel: ++32 2 223.22.65 fax: ++32 2 223.03.43
AVAILABLE AT: http://www.ifj.org/issues/racism/prize.html
The IFJPrize 2000 Rules of the Competition
1. Applications are invited from individual journalists who are working in any print, audiovisual or other journalistic media in any European country.
2. A jury of six prominent journalists and media professionals will be responsible for the consideration of entries and the selection of the prizewinners.
3. The Prize will be awarded for entries in three categories: a) written press, b) radio and c) television for items of news or information which, in the judges’ opinion, most contributes to tolerance in multicultural society.
4. Judges will also consider
a) the quality of professionalism and journalistic standards applied in the preparation and dissemination of the item;
b) the exemplary nature of the item and its impact on and relevance to public opinion;
5. Entries must be for items which have been published or transmitted in general information media during 1999. Entries must be submitted either in English, German or French or with an adequate translation from the original in one of these languages. Audio-visual entries must be submitted with a full script either in English, German, French, Italian or Serbian Croatian.
6. The Prizewinners will receive an amount equal to 4,000 Euro or in the case of an award to a team of journalists, up to 8,000 Euro.
7. The IFJ will be given the right to reproduce or transmit in any media, for non-commercial purposes, the work that has been selected.
8. The Prize will be in the form of a travel grant for the preparation of a further piece of journalistic endeavour in this field which will be published or transmitted in the following year.
9. Only one entry is permitted per applicant. Each entry must be made with the written consent of the author.
10. The latest date for entries is 29th February 2000.
11. The Prizewinners will be ineligible to enter for the Prize for two years.
12. The decision of the judges shall be final.
13. Members of the IFJ Executive Committee or journalists employed by the IFJ in any capacity shall not be eligible to submit an entry.
A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST ITEM MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION (the application form is available on the IFJ’s website).
SEND IT TO THE IFJ BY 29TH FEBRUARY 2000.
IFJ, 266 RUE ROYALE, 1210 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. TEL: +32.2.223.22.65 FAX: +32.2.223.03.43. EMAIL: ifj.projects@pophost.eunet.be
AVAILABLE AT HTTP://WWW.IFJ.ORG/ISSUES/RACISM/PRIZE.HTML
