The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) is inviting journalists and media practitioners from around the world to submit entries for its 23rd annual UNCA Awards for the best print, broadcast (Television and Radio) and online, web-based media coverage of the United Nations, UN agencies and field operations.
The 2018 edition also marks UNCA’s 70th anniversary celebrating seven decades of journalism committed to reporting on the UN and its many causes and objectives.
The Awards, in three categories, are:
- The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize, sponsored by the Alexander Bodini Foundation, for written media (including online media). The prize is for print and online coverage of the UN and UN agencies, named in honor of Elizabeth Neuffer, The Boston Globe bureau chief at the UN, who died while on an assignment in Baghdad in 2003.
- The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize, for broadcast (TV & Radio) media. The prize is for broadcast coverage of the UN and UN agencies, named in honor of Ricardo Ortega, formerly the New York correspondent for Antena 3 TV of Spain, who died while on an assignment in Haiti in 2004.
- The Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Global Prize for coverage of Climate Change. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV and Radio) for coverage of sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three main categories: climate change, biodiversity, and water.
The UNCA awards are open to all journalists from anywhere in the world and submission deadline is September 15, 2018.
Applicants are to note that coverage of the UN and its agencies is specified in each category. The committee welcomes coverage of all issues particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, peacekeeping operations and nonproliferation, including the elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Works in print, broadcast (TV and Radio) and online coverage must be published between September 2017 and August 2018; Entries can be submitted in any of the official UN languages (English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian) however a written transcript in English or French is necessary to facilitate the judging process. Each candidate can submit to no more than two prize categories, with a maximum of three stories in each. Joint entries are accepted. Electronic files and web links uploaded to the online Entry Form are required.
Judges will look for entries with impact, insight and originality, and will take into account the courage and investigative and reporting skills of the journalists. Entries from the developing world media are particularly welcome.
Entries are submitted online by completing the UNCA Awards entry form available here.
The prizes amount to over US$60,000 that will be distributed among the winners. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, will present the prizes at the awards ceremony scheduled for December in New York.
The contest deadline is September 15, 2018.
For more information and to apply, please visit: http://unca.com/unca-awards-call-for-submissions/.
