UNESCO launches competition for best article on freedom of information
11-03-2010 (Rabat)
© UNESCO
With a view to celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2010, the UNESCO Office in Rabat launches a sub-regional competition of opinion articles on the theme “Freedom of Information and the Right to Know: What future for the Maghreb countries?”
All journalists from the Maghreb countries are invited to submit an article of 800-900 words in French or Arabic through the online platform on the website of UNESCO’s Rabat Office before 31 March 2010.
The submitted text should be an opinion article presenting a point of view on the perspectives of freedom of information in the Maghreb countries. The article should have a clear argument, contain facts and/or statistics and invite to reflect. The online platform will disseminate the submitted articles to a wide range of journalists in the Maghreb countries.
The selection of the best article will be made by a sub-regional jury comprising high-level representatives from newspapers and magazines in Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
The author of the winning article will be announced on the occasion of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Nouakchott (Mauritania) on 3 May 2010. The winner will receive a grant of 3,000 USD in order to undertake an internship or a study in one of the partner media organizations or schools of journalism. Institutions interested to be partners in this competition are invited to contact the UNESCO Office in Rabat.
UNESCO has consistently supported initiatives that promote accountability and professional standards in journalism. The development of freedom of information and culture of investigative journalism among and by media professionals in the Maghreb countries contributes to improve the quality of journalism for the benefit of the public.
Recalling Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”, UNESCO’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2010 will highlight the importance of freedom of information as an integral part of freedom of expression and its contribution to democratic governance.
The submitted text should be an opinion article presenting a point of view on the perspectives of freedom of information in the Maghreb countries. The article should have a clear argument, contain facts and/or statistics and invite to reflect. The online platform will disseminate the submitted articles to a wide range of journalists in the Maghreb countries.
The selection of the best article will be made by a sub-regional jury comprising high-level representatives from newspapers and magazines in Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
The author of the winning article will be announced on the occasion of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Nouakchott (Mauritania) on 3 May 2010. The winner will receive a grant of 3,000 USD in order to undertake an internship or a study in one of the partner media organizations or schools of journalism. Institutions interested to be partners in this competition are invited to contact the UNESCO Office in Rabat.
UNESCO has consistently supported initiatives that promote accountability and professional standards in journalism. The development of freedom of information and culture of investigative journalism among and by media professionals in the Maghreb countries contributes to improve the quality of journalism for the benefit of the public.
Recalling Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”, UNESCO’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2010 will highlight the importance of freedom of information as an integral part of freedom of expression and its contribution to democratic governance.
Related themes/countries
· Algeria
· Mauritania
· Morocco
· Tunisia
· Freedom of Information
· World Press Freedom Day 2010
· WPFD 2010: UNESCO Rabat Office
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