Can reporting change someone’s future? Several video and photo materials submitted to the contest did make a difference and contributed to changing lives of their heroes for the better. The stories, focusing on ordinary people and their rights, featured topics of significant interest to a broad national audience.

One of the key features of the contest is that it is open to both well-known media professionals and young journalists, from central and regional media. For the fourth edition of the contest this year, 246 journalists from 12 countries submitted their works to the Jury. The event received extensive coverage in the leading national media.

The winners of this year’s contest are: Liudmila Moiseyenko, who won the best documentary award for Crystal boy; and Alexey Ivliyev and Ayrat Shavaliyev, whose Question of Honour - Rabbi Lau received the award for the best TV reporting.

On 5 May 2010 the award ceremony was held in Moscow along with the exhibition of selected photos and public screening of the best video reports and documentaries as part of the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day (3 May). The event brought together winners of the contest, media practitioners, media activists, representatives of the government and civil society, who discussed the role of the media for a meaningful public debate and the importance of freedom of information as an integral part of freedom of expression.

In the framework of the contest, online and offline voting was conducted among young journalists. It identified media outlets that consistently promote freedom for expression. Nominees were awarded special prizes.

The contest was organized by the Eurasia Media Centre in cooperation with the Russian Union of Journalists and the International Confederation of Journalists Unions, with the support of the UNESCO Moscow Office and the International Academy of Television and Radio.