Euromed Heritage Journalistic Award

In collaboration with UNESCO, the International Federation of Journalists and its European regional group in Brussels, the Foreign Press Association in Italy and with the special participation of ANSAmed.

Award

The Euromed Heritage Journalistic Award is an international press competition dealing with the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. The competition, organized by the European Commission, via the Regional Management and Support Unit (RMSU) of the Euromed Heritage Programme, is open to journalists from EU and Mediterranean partners.
Media can play an important role in safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage. Press articles have the capacity to involve the public, modify laws and collect funds. The Euromed Heritage Journalistic Award can contribute to raising awareness on cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region by encouraging high quality reporting

Purposes of the award are:

  • to stimulate European and Mediterranean young journalists (under 35 years of age) to write about cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region.
  • to promote awareness and knowledge about heritage among the public (EU and Meda). It is important to convey the feeling that cooperation in the Mediterranean area is not only possible, but welcome and rewarded. Special attention will be given to examples of cooperation (North-South/South-North or South-South).
  • to reinforce a list of international journalists interested in cultural heritage topics. A data base of journalists interested in cultural topics (divided by country/media/field of expertise, to be posted on the Euromed Heritage website).

The prize will be awarded in the framework of events organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the Declaration of Barcelona.

Prizes

Two first Prizes, one for an EU journalist and one for a MEDA journalist, consisting of a contract worth €3,000 (Euro) gross for each winner, plus travel expenses and accommodation. Each journalist will visit two Euromed Heritage sites and write articles on them for publication in the Euromed Heritage newsletter and website, and if possible for his/her media. Articles with joint signature by the two winners are welcome.

  • European journalists are those working for a magazine / newspaper registered in one of the EU Member States (MS). MEDA journalists are those working for a magazine / newspaper registered in one of the 10 MEDA partners. Mediterranean Member States and Territories are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, The Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Journalists should be resident in the EU or in the Mediterranean area.

An international jury of professionals from the world of media, conservation and international organisations, will select the winners.

Special prize ANSAmed

ANSAmed is an international press agency for the Mediterranean basin based on a network of national press agencies. ANSAmed, in the framework of the Euromed Heritage Journalistic award, offers for the best article on an example of regional cooperation, to a journalist from MEDA partners:

  • a 40 days stage in its headquarters in Naples. During the stage the journalist will take part in the news agency’s team work, and acquire new skills in the preparation of news in English and in Arabic, in particular in the cultural field;
  • travel and accommodation;
  • a forfeit reimbursement of €3,000.

Should the winner not take advantage of the ANSAmed special prize, it will be assigned to the next classified.

Rules

The evaluation process will be managed by a international Jury appointed by the EC. The Jury will propose the winner to the EC for final approval. The RMSU will provide the technical secretariat.

Articles will be weighted by the Jury on the bases of the following: accuracy and richness of information, clarity and efficacy of the message, capacity to raise awareness, quality of the presentation, and originality of the topic chosen. Special consideration will be given to articles illustrating collaboration between EU and MEDA countries and South-South cooperation.

To be eligible journalists must:

  • be under 35 years of age
  • be journalists for in print newspapers are eligible to apply, they should be practicing journalism as their main, though not necessary sole, activity
  • have the nationality of one of the 25 EU Member States (MS) or one of the 10 Mediterranean partners (Mediterranean Member States and Territories are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, The Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey), and be resident in one of them.

To be eligible articles must:

  • deal with the theme of promoting knowledge and safeguarding of cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region. Cultural heritage is understood as comprising historic and archaeological sites, monuments, museums, archives, libraries, but also intangible heritage such as oral tradition, the process of creation of skills and know-how, festive events, music and song.
  • Be published between March 2004 and April May 2005 in a European or Mediterranean newspaper or a magazine of national relevance on sale to the public
  • Be intended for the general public. Articles published in the specialised press for professionals are not eligible
  • Candidates may submit only ONE entry
  • Material submitted cannot be returned

To enter

Submit:

  • article (original or photocopy) by mail. The name of the newspaper, the name of the author, and the date of publication must be readable.
  • the article must be accompanied by a 200 words summary in English or in French. The entire translation is required only for articles admitted for the final selection, if not originally published in one of these languages.
  • a photocopy of an identity document where the age of the candidate is visible should also be submitted.

Mailing address:

  • Regional Management and Support Unit
    Euromed Heritage
    ICCD - Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione
    via di San Michele, 18
    00153 Rome, ITALY

Contact:

Articles must arrive at the RMSU secretariat within the required deadline (31 May 2005).