London and Gland, Switzerland, 10 August 2006 (Reuters Foundation/IUCN) – Reuters Foundation and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) launch today the 2006 Media Awards, a worldwide competition aimed at raising global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, by encouraging excellence in environmental reporting worldwide.
The Awards, established in 1998 by Reuters Foundation and IUCN, aim to help raise global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, by encouraging high standards in environmental reporting worldwide. They are co-funded by Reuters Foundation, IUCN and COM+ Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development.
In the past these journalists have c ome from countries as diverse as Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Great Britain, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Togo, USA, and Zimbabwe.
“Through this competition we are looking for examples of high-quality, investigative and inspired reporting that helps both decision-makers and the public assume their responsibility for conserving nature and human wellbeing,” said Valli Moosa, President of the World Conservation Union.
Journalists working in print and online media are invited to submit entries to 2006 Reuters-IUCN Media Awards. One winner from each of the six regions – Latin America ; North America , including the Caribbean and Oceania ; Europe ; Asia ; English-speaking Africa , including the Middle East and French-speaking Africa will be invited to attend the Global Awards Ceremony taking place in London towards the end of 2006. The global winner will receive a cash prize of US$ 5’000.
All submissions must have been published between 01 December 2004 and 10 September 2006 . Candidates may submit one article only, accompanied by an entry form, to the nearest IUCN office. Entries written in a language other than English, French or Spanish must be accompanied by a translation. The deadline for entries is 15 September 2006 .
More information and application forms can be found on the Reuters Foundation website at:
www.foundation.reuters.com and the IUCN website at www.iucn.org/reuters.
For more information please contact:
* Carolin Wahnbaeck, Global Media Relations Officer, The World Conservation Union (IUCN),
Tel: +41 22 999 0127, e-mail: carolin.wahnbaeckiucn.org, www.iucn.org
* Shan Kelly, Reuters Foundation, Tel: +44 (0)207 542 7010, Fax: +44 (0)207 542 6848,
e-mail: Shan.Kellyreuters.com, www.foundation.reuters.com
About Reuters Foundation
Reuters Foundation was created by Trust Deed in 1982 to support media in developing countries and to share Reuters fact-based reporting skills. It is a UK-registered charity (number 1082139) and is governed by Trustees appointed in accordance with the articles of association. It is also a company limited by guarantee (number 4047905).
To date more than 4,200 journalists from 172 countries have benefited from fully sponsored training provided by the Foundation on international media, business journalism, environmental and health issues, television coverage, conflict reporting and crisis-response. More information can be found at www.foundation.reuters.com
About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 81 States, 120 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union ’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland , Switzerland. More information can be found at www.iucn.org
