The media’s dedicated efforts to highlight the problems related to children’s rights and young people’s participation in development will be honored by the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) with a Media Excellence Award for contributions in 2008.
In a press release issued by the UNICEF office in Yemen on August 12, UNICEF motivates all journalists, children and teenagers in the Arab World to participate in the Arab Media Humanitarian Forum. The award was announced by the UNICEF Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa in conjunction with the Dubai Press Club and the United Arab Emirates’ Al-Bayan Newspaper, in March 2008.
The media prize will be awarded to the Arab media for its excellence in reporting on the situation and issues related to the condition of children in the Middle East and North Africa. Works submitted tackle national or regional issues and for 2008, the Forum agreed on the topic to be focused on adolescents (ages 10 to 19).
According to the UNICEF office in Sana’a, nominee works must adhere to the highest standards of journalism, including clarity of expression, accuracy, fairness and strict observance of ethical guidelines in reporting on children’s issues and respecting the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of judges comprising media representatives and the UNICEF.
Prizes will be awarded to four different categories: TV, Radio, print and on-line (web based) media representatives. The award is open to all materials and the only limit is that they need to be in Arabic and published or broadcasted between January 01, 2008 and September 30, 2008.
The UNICEF Yemen Country Office in Sana’a stated that they welcome submissions from interested participants in the Arab Media Award and that submission forms are available from UNICEF’s Office.
All submissions must be delivered to UNICEF Yemen Country Office in Sana’a on or before 30 September, 2008.