The Marseille-Provence-Alpes du Sud Press Society is organising the International Award for Freedom of Speech. It will reward a leading article, coverage, survey or interview conveying a free and independent vision. Award amount : 5 000 Euros
Every year around the world, many journalists disappear. Some of them have been abducted, imprisoned, tortured or simply shot down. The only crime they have committed is doing their job, being on the spot where the story takes place, investigating and informing people, simply trying and tell the truth. Anna Politkovskayawas one of them. Her articles and books caused her to be cowardly assassinated. Hrant Dink, who was shot down a few months later in Istanbul, was her brother in courage and human qualities. They shared a common love for Man and Freedom.
General rules
The Marseille-Provence-Alpes du Sud Press Society, a registered non-profit Association is organising, in partnership with the Foundation for International Reporters, the ‘International Award for Freedom of Speech’ as a tribute to Anna Politkovskaya, Hrant Dink, and all our colleagues who died fighting for the right to inform.
This 5000-Euro Award is open to any professional journalist, whatever his/her nationality, working with any international press agency, either at a national or regional level. It will reward a leading article, coverage, survey or interview conveying a free and independent vision, exempt from official or appointed speech, on a story in the political, social, economic or environmental field, and which was published or broadcast between September 1st 2006 and August 31 2007.
Applications should include:
- For the written press: an original copy of the published article (15,000 characters maximum) mentioning the title and date of publication together with a transcrip of the article with the byline omitted.
- For television: a VHS copy (12 minutes maximum)
- For radio: a tape or CD (6 minutes maximum)
All documents, whether written, audio or video, should be sent with a French translation ; if a French translation cannot be obtained, an English one will be accepted.
The jury comprises six professional journalists and four qualified personalities selected by the Commission of the Press Society. The results will be proclaimed on December 1st 2007, during the Festival of Major Coverage in Marseilles.
Applications should be sent to the Press Society at the following address and must be post-marked by September 15 2007:
Marseille-Provence-Alpes du Sud Press Society
12 rue Breteuil 13001
Marseille
The complete listing of rules for the Award for Freedom of Speech will be provided upon request at the following email address: c-presse@wanadoo.fr
