Journalists from the Middle East and North Africa are invited to submit entries for the 2008 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 print or online journalists from the following countries: Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen.

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 - the Freedom of the Press Journalist award and Young Researcher award. Journalist category: The winner will be awarded EU$15,000. Young Researcher category: The winner will be awarded EU$10,000.

The deadline for application is March 30 2008.

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Click here to access application forms.

Journalist category: This is for journalists of the written press (including print and online) who are nationals of the countries listed above. Applicants must submit an investigative article or an editorial related to the Rule of Law: good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, human rights. For applicants representing the printed press, the article must have been published in the media (a press organ) of the country of which the applicant is a national or in a press organ of one of the member states of the European Union between March 15 2007 and March 15 2008.

Young Researcher category: This is for researchers under the age of 35 who are nationals of the countries listed above. The contest is open to researchers who are registered at a public or private university of these countries. Applicants must submit a dissertation or thesis, completed during the 2007 academic year, which relates to the rule of law or press freedom. Applications must be individual.

Candidates can only apply for one category and on an individual basis.