EU Launches 'The Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of The Press 2012'

Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the Delegation of the European Union, launched Wednesday during a press conference held at the EU Delegation the seventh edition of the "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press" in the presence of Mrs Gisele Khoury-Kassir, President of Samir Kassir Foundation, and representatives from EU Member States

The "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press", which is awarded since 2006 by the European Union, honours the Lebanese journalist and writer Samir Kassir who was assassinated in 2005. The Award has grown in popularity since its creation, each year witnessing an ever increasing number of candidates from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and the Gulf. This was particularly the case in 2011.

Since the beginning of the uprisings in the region, journalists and social media played a key role in supporting and publicising the popular call for freedom of expression and dignity.

Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst said that "Samir Kassir's memory and values are more alive than ever in this period of transition in a newer Mediterranean region. His memory continues to inspire us all to be an engine for democracy and human rights and to open windows for positive change, for freedom, dignity and social justice".

The contest is open to candidates from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf until 30 March 2012. Two awards will be granted for:

- the best Opinion Article

and

- the best Investigative Reporting Article

related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).

Since the creation of the "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press", 634 journalists participated in the contest.

The jury will be composed of seven voting members from Arab and European media and civil society, and one observer representing the European Union. The names of the jury members shall be communicated during the prize-giving ceremony which will take place on 2 June 2012 in Beirut. The winner of each category will receive a prize of €10,000.

The contest regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following website: www.samirkassiraward.org

Information for candidates

The contest complete regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following websites:

www.prixsamirkassir.org

www.samirkassiraward.org

The complete file has to be sent:

• either by e-mail (in Word or PDF format), to arrive at the latest on 30 March 2012 at the following address: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

• or by regular mail (in hard copy and on CD-ROM) in an envelope with the following indications:

“Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press” and “Opinion Article category” or “Investigative Reporting category", to be received at the latest on 30 March 2012 at the following address:

Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon

490 Harbor Drive Building, Charles Helou Avenue

Saifi – Beirut

BP 11-4008. Riad El Solh

LEBANON

For any questions, a telephone line and an e-mail address are available to candidates:

Tel: + 962 7 77 37 47 47

E-mail: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

Rules

1. The contest is open to journalists of the written press (daily, weekly, monthly and online press), regardless of age, who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

2. Candidates must submit an opinion article OR an investigative article related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).

3. The article must have been published in a media of one of the countries listed above or one of the European Union Member States.

4. The submitted articles must not exceed 25,000 signs and must have been published between 15 March 2011 and 15 March 2012.

5. Candidates can only apply for one category and on an individual basis (jointly-produced works will not be accepted).

6. The winner of each of the two categories will be awarded €10,000.

7. The European Union may reproduce and publish the awarded article or report in its own publications (non-commercial) and in other publications related to the "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press".

8. The jury members, staff of the European Union are excluded from the contest.