The Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism celebrate the best in freelance print journalism and local reporters who show great courage and commitment to reporting on controversial issues.
Two $5,000 prizes are awarded each year, one to a local reporter covering local stories in a developing country or nation in transition, and the other to a freelance journalist covering international news. The stories can focus on conflict, human-rights concerns, cross-border issues, or any other issue of controversy in a particular country or region.
Underwritten by the Kurt Schork Memorial Fund and Reuters, the prizes honour Kurt Schork, an American freelance journalist who was killed in a military ambush while on assignment for Reuters on May 24, 2000, in Sierra Leone.
How to Enter
All submissions must demonstrate professionalism, meet international journalistic standards, and provide evidence that courage and determination played a role in generating the articles. Winners will be chosen by an international panel of five judges.
Each applicant must submit six (6) copies of the following if sending by post, or one (1) copy of each, as attachments, if applying via email:
- Freelance News Reporter Entry Form or Local Reporter Entry Form.
- The original articles, (up to three), accompanied by English translation. Articles must have appeared in print between March 1, 2006 and April 30 2007.
- The applicant's curriculum vitae (resume), listing education and journalistic experience, with dates.
- A statement providing background and context for the stories submitted.
- A signed original letter from the editor of the publication on official letterhead supporting the submission for the Kurt Schork Award, including confirmation of the nominee's employment status with the publication.
- One (1) photograph. Photocopies of photographs will not be accepted.
Deadline for receipt of entries in London: June 15, 2007
Applications may be sent electronically via email, or by post.
schorkawards@iwpr.net or,
The Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism
c/o Alan Davis
Institute for War & Peace Reporting
48 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8LT
UK
Eligibility
Local Reporter: Print journalists employed by a local news outlet and residing in a developing country or nation in transition (non OECD or EU countries), whose work has been published in a local publication are eligible. Although individual journalists are the primary focus, submissions from a team of journalists will also be considered. (See more details in footnote)
Freelance News Reporter: All freelance print journalists and those contracted by news organizations are eligible. A freelance journalist is an individual who is not employed by a news organization. They are self-employed, providing services, either on the basis of time or on the production of editorial materials as defined by individual contractual arrangements, and earn the majority of their income from journalism.
Eligible media: Entries are welcomed from all types of print-based media including newspapers and magazines and established on-line publications. Comment and opinion pieces, blogs and personal websites are not eligible.
Eligible Developing Country is any country except the United States, Canada, the European Union countries, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
The term Local Reporter means a print journalist who:
- is a citizen of an Eligible Developing Country;
- works and publishes in such Eligible Developing Country;
- is employed on a permanent or non permanent basis as a freelancer by a news organization based in such Eligible Developing Country;
- publishes his/her stories through the news organization of his/her employment in the same country of his/her citizenship; and
- publishes stories that have had an impact in the Eligible Developing Country, such as a better understanding of a controversial issue or a new revelation of an issue.
The term Freelance News Reporter means a print journalist who:
- is not permanently employed with any news organization, although he/she may be providing services to news organizations on the basis of [time or on the production of editorial materials pursuant to individual contractual arrangements];
- earns the majority of his/her income from journalistic activities; and
- earns the majority of his/her income from journalistic activities covering news in Eligible Developing Country.
While preference shall be given to individual journalists in both the Freelance News Reporter and Local Reporter categories, submissions from a team of journalists will also be considered; provided that each member of the team satisfies the requirements of a Freelance News Reporter or Local Reporter, respectively.
