Deadline: January 19, 2016 | Apply here
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Eligibility: anyone who has published article about Belarus during year 2015
Prizes: EUR 3×500 for professionals and EUR 3×300 for amateurs
Belarus in Focus 2015 is the fifth edition of a competition for journalists who publish about Belarus in the international media. The competition goal is to encourage journalists and editors to pay attention to ongoing events and trends in Belarus – political, economic, social, and cultural. By creating a place for exchange and debate,they hope to contribute to understanding about Belarus, and help to overcome Belarus’ isolation.
Your article may be about any issue relating to Belarus – politics, society, economic or cultural. The jury will be looking for in-depth articles with fresh and original ideas which contribute something new to an international audience’s understanding about Belarus. The ‘Belarus in Focus 2015’ judging panel will award:
- Best articles by professional journalists: x3 prizes of 500 EUR*
- Best articles by beginner journalists: x3 prizes of 300 EUR*
In addition, an audience award will be given by online voters.
All award winners will be invited to attend a two-day journalism workshop in spring 2015, led by jury members. The programme will include an award ceremony. Travel expenses, food, and accommodation will be covered for those invited.
There are no restrictions on nationality, citizenship, or place of residence. We particularly encourage Belarusian journalists to enter. The Competition is not open to employees of Belarus in Focus Information Office or their family members, or anyone else directly connected to the Competition.
You may enter up to 2 articles that you have written/co-written, providing they are:
- About Belarus
- Published between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, online or in print
- Published in media outside of Belarus whose main target audience is non-Belarusian
- In English/ translated into English. Other languages: Danish, Spanish, German, French, Ukrainian, Norwegian, Swedish, Bulgarian, Russian, Polish
- More than a straightforward news/promo piece
- Only those accepted into the second round will be translated into English.
- You can only submit the article if you are the author/coauthor. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted.
- You should have permission from the chief editor of the newspaper/magazine/electronic media that published your article (the online form will ask you to tick a box to confirm this).
- Any evidence of plagiarism may result in your work being removed from the Competition.
There are two categories:
- Professional: if you have over 3 years’ experience in having your work published
- Beginner: if you have under 3 years’ experience in having your work published
The competition is open for entries until midnight on Thursday, January 19th, 2016 (but your article should have been published in 2015). Any entries received after this date will not be accepted. The organizers reserve the right to extend the deadline. In such a case, an announcement will be placed on the website. Entries will be evaluated by an international jury. Working at long distance, judges will reach a final decision by February 17th, 2016. When possible, judges will read your article in its original language.The panel’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into with entrants. Winners and finalists will be announced on the competition website and contacted via email by February 18th, 2016. The finalists will be invited to a two-day workshop in spring 2016, in Warsaw or Minsk (TBA). Winners will be awarded at a ceremony to be held during the workshop.
If you have any questions,please contact focus@solidarityby.eu. Your article will be uploaded onto the competition website within 3 days, providing that it corresponds to the basic criteria. If it has not been uploaded, please contact us. Belarus in Focus 2015 is held by Belarus in Focus Information Office, in partnership with Press Club Belarus and Press Club Polska, members of the International Association of Press Clubs, and supported in part by NIRAS.
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