Journalists from the Middle East and North Africa are invited to submit entries for the 2007 Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press, which aims to promote media freedom and the rule of law in the region. The contest is open to all journalists regardless of age, who are citizens of one of the MEDA1 countries.

The prize is named after the former Lebanese columnist and academic who was assassinated in June 2005 for criticising Syria's policy toward Lebanon. It is awarded each year by the European Commission Delegation in Lebanon, in association with the Samir Kassir Foundation.

There are two award categories - Journalist and Young Researcher.

Journalist category - this is for journalists working in print, radio, television or online who are citizens of any of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia.

Candidates must submit an opinion article related to the rule of law, published or broadcast in a media organisation of one of the MEDA countries or one of the European Union member states between April 15 2006 and March 15 2007.

Candidates can only apply for one category and on an individual basis. The format of the report submitted for the competition has to be as follows:

• 25000 characters maximum for written press;
• six minutes maximum for radio;
• 12 minutes maximum for television.

The winner will be awarded EUR 15,000.

Young Researcher category - this is for university students under the age of 35 who are citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria or Tunisia. The contest is open to researchers who are registered at a public or private university of the above countries or one of the European Union member states. Applicants must submit a dissertation or thesis, completed during the 2006 academic year, which relates to the rule of law or press freedom. Applications must be individual.

The winner will be awarded EUR 10,000


Click here to access the registration form.