The contest for the fifth edition of the "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press" is open to candidates from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf until 30 March 2010.
The "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press", which is awarded since 2006 by the European Union in collaboration with the Samir Kassir Foundation, honours the Lebanese journalist and writer Samir Kassir who was assassinated in 2005. It has grown in popularity since its creation, each year witnessing the participation of more candidates from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Gulf. The award rewards two journalists who have proved to be an example to others by the quality of their work in the two following categories:
- the best opinion article;
and
- the best investigative reporting article.
The contest is open to all journalists of the written press (daily, weekly, monthly and online press), who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Applicants must submit only one article related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).
The jury will be composed of nine voting members from 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 2010 in Beirut. The winner of each category will receive a prize of €12,500.
The contest regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following website: www.samirkassiraward.org
