Office of the United Nations Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia

 

Springette, Off Lower Kabete Road, P.O. Box 28832, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel. (254 20) 4255000; Fax (254 20) 4255101 Website: www.somalia-un.org

Press Statement: for immediate release

The United Nations in Somalia has announced media awards to be won by Somali journalists, writers and radio broadcasters based in South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland.

The new awards aim to encourage the production of media features on development and humanitarian issues facing the country.

UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mark Bowden says the UN hopes to make the awards an annual event. “We want to recognize the contribution of Somali journalists and broadcasters who work under challenging conditions yet manage to put issues related to development and humanitarian issues on the public agenda”.

“This is all part of our long-term goal to support the improvement of journalism on development issues. Many Somali writers and broadcasters are highlighting the efforts towards peace, partnership, recovery and development across the country and we want to reward them for doing so,” said Mr. Bowden.

Individual prizes of up to USD 1,000 can be won in two categories: print and radio. The UN aims to add a TV category next year.

Features published or broadcast between 1 August 2007 and 30 September 2008 are eligible for entry in the following broad subject areas:  Peace & Governance, Partnership, Children, Women, Health and Responding to Emergencies.

Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprising high-level UN representatives and journalism professionals based on criteria including accuracy, analysis, balance, content, impact, originality and human interest value.

The call for entries is being made to Somali media houses, journalists’ organizations and freelance media practitioners in South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland.

The winners will be announced before year-end.

The awards are supported by United Nations agencies operating in Somalia: FAO, ILO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHABITAT, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNOCHA, UNPOS, WFP, WHO.