To mark 3 May, World Press Freedom Day in line with this year’s theme ‘Information as a Public Good’, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell issued a statement:
“In today’s digital era, we are drowning in information, especially in the Covid-19-related ‘infodemic.’ In this context, quality and non-partisan journalism is a ‘vaccine’ against disinformation, and journalists are our key allies in helping democracies function. Many thanks for your crucial contributions. The EU stands with you and for the freedom needed for you to do your crucial work.”
In line with tradition, Ambassador Hartzell also used this occasion to launch the 2021 EU Prize for Journalism:
“Today we launch the ninth edition of the EU Prize for Journalism. The Prize recognizes and rewards the highest standards of journalistic ethics, professionalism and quality. A month ago, I awarded the winners of the EU Prize for Journalism 2020 for their excellent entries demonstrating deep understanding of relevant and complex themes and challenges to modern Georgian society.’’
On the occasion of the launch of the EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism, the Head of EUMM Marek Szczygieł noted:
“On World Press Freedom Day, I would like to stress how paramount the role of free, independent, and professional press is to build confidence, lasting peace and healthy democracies. In conflict or post-conflict situations, this means a sensible, free of prejudice, ethical, and accurate reporting, otherwise called “Peace Journalism”. It is in order to encourage such practices, and reward the best works each year, that the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia is launching, as part of the EU Prize for Journalism, a Special Prize for Peace Journalism and best conflict-sensitive reporting.”
About the EU Prize for Journalism
Established by the European Union Delegation to Georgia in 2012, the EU Prize for Journalism encourages professionalism and ethical conduct in Georgian journalism. The Special Prize for conflict-sensitive journalism rewards media outlets contributing to confidence building and peace and is handed out by the European Union Monitoring Mission.
The rules of the EU Prize for Journalism take inspiration from the principles of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics and seek to encourage professionalism and ethics in Georgian Journalism.
In 2021, the EU Prize for Journalism will be awarded in seven categories:
- Best story in print or online media;
- Best feature story in broadcast or online media;
- Best investigative story in print, online, or broadcast media;
- Best online or print blog, opinion or column in print, online or broadcast media;
- The most innovative and original piece of work in print, broadcast or online media;
- Best documentary photo reflecting EU values;
- Best conflict-sensitive journalistic work contributing to confidence-building and peace in the context of armed conflicts in Georgia (The EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism).
The winners of the first six categories will receive monetary prizes.
The winner of the EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism will receive a 30 day fellowship with the Institute of War and Peace Reporting in London.
The deadline for submission of all entries is 30 November, 2021.
The rules and submission guidelines are available at https://eu4georgia.ge/euprizeforjournalism-rules/
The application form is available here: https://eu4georgia.ge/euprizeforjournalism-submission/
For any further information, please contact:
EU Prize for Journalism:
Tamriko Mikadze, EU Delegation to Georgia; Tamriko.Mikadze@eeas.europa.eu
EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism:
Nino Gezmava; IWPR; nino@iwpr.net
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World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence. WPFD acts as a reminder of the need to respect commitments to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics; a day of support to media that are targets of the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom; a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a true and important story.
The theme of May 3, 2021 is “Information as a Public Good.” In line with the UNESCO main theme for this year, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is launching a communication campaign, entitled ‘Press freedom protects us. Let’s protect press freedom’, to pay tribute to journalists’ crucial contribution to cope with the effects of the Covid-19.
