The annual East African Media Awards is the premier regional competition for journalists, editors and commentators covering the East African Community (EAC) integration. Launched in August 2010 and intended to be an annual event coinciding with the EAC-EABC Media Summit, the inaugural Awards ceremony was held in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2011.
The East African Media Awards, which are organised jointly by the EAC and the East African Business Council (EABC) broadly aim to ensure sustained coverage of the EAC and EABC, and specifically, the various projects and programmes being undertaken as part of the integration project.
Furthermore, the Awards are a platform through which the EAC and EABC recognize the efforts of various media houses in the region and celebrate those journalists who consciously and consistently pursue and highlight the EAC story.
In this regard, the Awards seek to reinforce the critical role of the media in driving the EAC integration agenda; and seek to reward, recognise and encourage journalistic talent across media platforms in the various aspects of regional cooperation. This year’s EAC-EABC East African Media Summit and Awards ceremony will be held in August in Kigali, Rwanda.
WHO CAN ENTER
The competition is open to all bone fide practising journalists/commentators from the East African Community Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda).
Due to various challenges and concerns raised by respondents regarding the previous call for entries, such as the requirement for every submission to include 10 EAC article references, as well as challenges with email submission systems, the Awards organisers have extended the period for submission of entries for the East African Media Awards 2012, from 27 June to 20 July 2012. In addition to entries submitted for the various categories, applicants are required to submit between 5 to 10 article titles as proof of consistency in reporting the EAC integration story.
To qualify for the East African Media Awards 2012, all submissions must have been published or broadcast in the period 19 March 2011 – 20 July 2012.
HOW TO ENTER
Journalists can enter a maximum of three pieces per category; active website links for articles published online may be submitted by email, while print articles may be submitted in hard copy or electronically (scanned to PDF). Radio/video clips may be submitted via CD/DVD or online.
In addition, journalists vying for the Awards are required to complete the Awards entry form where they will provide titles, date(s) of publication and the publishing media house(s) of submitted entries, plus at least ten additional articles/radio/TV works produced within the specified competition period to demonstrate consistency in reporting on EAC integration.
Entries not originally published in English may be submitted but an accompanying English translation (for print/online articles and radio/TV scripts) must be provided.
CATEGORIES
There are eight (8) categories for the East African Media Awards 2012. Submission to more than one category is allowed. Detailed information on each is provided below:
1) EABC Chairman’s Award (Business Reporting)
The Chairman’s Award is given for the best news or feature story or series of news/feature stories that highlight the state of the EAC business climate with an eye on improving the trade/investment environment.
2) Green Award (Environment Reporting)
The Green Award seeks to reward informed coverage that draws attention to the key environmental issues that have a regional bearing.
3) Best Reporter (Financial Reporting)
An award for a news or feature story or series of news/feature articles covering the EAC financial sector especially for reportage focusing on assessing the region’s progress on integrating its financial markets.
4) Best Reporter (Political Federation Reporting)
An award for a news or feature story or series of news/feature stories covering the EAC peace, security and political spheres and examining how these are influencing or are likely to influence the pursuit for the East African Political Federation.
5) Best Reporter (Agriculture and Food Security Reporting)
An award for a news or feature story or series of news/feature stories covering the critical subject of agriculture and food security, particularly critiquing where the region is and how it can enhance these two aspects.
6) Best Reporter (Higher Education Reporting)
An award for a news or feature story or series of news/feature stories covering higher education reported from a regional perspective.
7) Best Reporter (Health Reporting)
An award for a news of feature story or series of news/feature stories covering the health sector and is reported from a regional perspective.
8) EAC Secretary General’s Award (Overall Winner)
The Secretary General’s Award is the ultimate prize on offer at the annual East African Media Awards. It goes to the best entry of all entries submitted across the different categories.
SUBMISSION FORMATS
Print (Maximum word count per article: 4000 words)
Email: Submit as MS Word or PDF attachment
Post: A4 printout of article; A4 or A3 article photocopy; or original newspaper cutout
Electronic (RADIO/TV)
Submit as MP3, MP4, AVI, WAV, WMV, FLV on CD or DVD (not exceeding 1 hour in length).
*Recommended: Entrants submitting audio/video clips are encouraged to submit CDs/DVDs of their work which they can then send to the postal address provided OR submit clips online any of the following ways:
1. Video: Contestants may create a YouTube channel (or use similar platform), and provide link(s)
2. Audio: Submit via http://soundcloud.com/ (or similar platform), and provide link(s)
3. Other: Submit any file format using file sharing platforms (e.g. https://docs.google.com, http://explore.live.com/skydrive, http://www.mediashare.com/) and provide link(s)
Electronic (internet)
Email: Active URLs (links) to be provided in completed Awards entry form.
PANEL OF JUDGES
The East African Media Awards has a six-member Panel of Judges to adjudicate entries. The Panel is comprised of individuals of the highest integrity, who command a fine understanding of journalistic practice in general and in the EAC context in particular, and are highly respected media practitioners with competences as current/former editors, reporters, media managers and trainers.
SELECTION CRITERIA
In addition to entries being required to meet the primary standards of accuracy and balance, while reflecting journalistic integrity, the Panel of Judges will be looking for the following qualities:
• Enterprise/Endeavour: Proof of extraordinary effort invested by the journalist to get the story
• Originality: A story idea(s) on the EAC integration that is out of the ordinary; ground-breaking
• Innovative use of medium: An inventive use of the medium(s) at the journalist’s disposal
• Clarity/Simplicity: A style that tells the story in a simple, clear yet engaging/interesting style
• Consistency: A passion for reporting the EAC story, as evidenced by proof of consistent reportage
FINALISTS
A maximum of three finalists will be selected for each category by the Panel of Judges. The finalists for the overall winner category will be selected from the best three entries across categories. Finalists will be invited and required to attend the Awards ceremony in person. A return air ticket to the host city plus accommodation will be provided.
PRIZES
Each category winner will receive a cash prize, a plaque and a certificate.
• EAC Secretary General’s Award (Overall winner) will receive $3000, an iPad, plaque and certificate
• EABC Chairman’s Award (Business Reporting) ) will receive $2500, a laptop , plaque and certificate
• Green Award (Environment Reporting) will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
• Financial Reporting Award will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
• Political Reporting Award will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
• Agriculture and Food Security Award will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
• Health Reporting Award will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
• Higher Education Reporting Award will receive $1500, plaque and certificate
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Entries must reach the EAC Secretariat by Friday 20 July 2012. Entries after this date will be automatically disqualified. Submissions by email should be sent to mediacentre@eachq.org CC: eabc@eabc-online.com
Submissions by post should be addressed to:
The Secretary General
East African Community Secretariat
ATTN: East African Media Awards 2012
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha, Tanzania
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/ submissions: mediacentre@eachq.org CC: eabc@eabc-online.com
Website: http://www.eac.int/
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