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Nominations open for Journalism Excellence Awards

Deadline: 9 April 2024

The Council of Europe (CoE) is launching a call for applications from the media sphere (print media, TV media, photographers, reporters, journalists, etc.) in all the Council of Europe (CoE) member states.

The Journalism Excellence Awards 2024 “Ethical media reporting on Roma and combating racism and antigypsyism through the media” called hereafter “Awards” is organised in the frame of Joint Programme EQUIROM (Equality and Freedom from Discrimination for Roma) funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

The Awards aim to promote a positive image of Roma and marginalised communities in the media, especially with regard to women and children. It contributes directly to the European objectives of promoting an image free from stereotypes and positive examples in order to drive a change in people’s perception.

Categories

  • Photojournalism award: for using images to tell unbiased stories of Roma, in particular about Roma women and young people, refraining from generalisation and stereotyping
  • Investigative journalism award: for reporting on hardship of and exposing discrimination, unequal treatment, and human rights violations towards Roma and other racialised groups, as well as showcasing initiatives and promising or constructive practices tackling antigypsyism, racism and discrimination
  • Best interview award: for conducting an interview on Roma-related topics and/or broader issues linked to racism, particularly antigypsyism and discrimination, including with (famous) Roma individuals
  • Global event award: for the coverage of global events in recent years (2020-2024) which had an impact on Roma communities and/or individuals, for example the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change/natural disasters, etc.
  • Special young journalists award: for journalists under the age of 26 (at the time of application) reporting on human rights, or ethnic minorities and racialised groups

Funding Information

  • The Awards shall consist of €10,000 in total, split in 5 different categories (€2,000 per award category). Award winners will also be awarded a diploma commending their outstanding contribution to the cause.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Journalists and professional media representatives who are or have been active in the production of objective, neutral, “free of bias” or positive media reports on Roma-related issues may be eligible.
  • Journalists and media professionals from the Council of Europe member States may be eligible.
  • By submitting the application the applicants declare that they are not in any of the situations listed in the exclusion criteria below:
    • have been sentenced by final judgment on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities, child labour or trafficking in human beings;
    • are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any like situation arising from a procedure of the same kind, or are subject to a procedure of the same kind;
    • have received a judgment with res judicata force, finding an offence that affects their professional integrity or serious professional misconduct, including the offence of hate speech or hate crime;
    • do not comply with their obligations as regards payment of social security contributions, taxes and dues, according to the statutory provisions of their country of incorporation, establishment or residence;
    • are an entity created to circumvent tax, social or other legal obligations (empty shell company), have ever created or are in the process of creation of such an entity;
    • have been involved in mismanagement of the Council of Europe funds or public funds;
    • are or appear to be in a situation of conflict of interest;
    • are retired Council of Europe staff members or are staff members having benefitted from an early departure scheme;
    • are or if their owner(s) or executive officer(s), in the case of legal persons, are included in the lists of persons or entities subject to restrictive measures applied by the European Union

For more information, visit CoE.