On the occasion of November 16, the International Day for Tolerance, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, will be awarding, for the seventh time, the Annual Media Award for the best media texts and contributions on combating discrimination and promoting equality and tolerance. The aim of the competition is to promote media values such as: equality, tolerance, as well as the suppression of prejudices and stereotypes towards minority, marginalized and vulnerable groups, and raising the visibility of the institution of the Commissioner.

Journalists of all print and electronic media registered in Serbia, both local and national, who published texts/contributions on the topic of the competition in the period from September 15, 2021, to September 15, 2022, have the right to participate in the competition. Several journalists from the same media outlet can participate, but only with one text/contribution. Also, journalists who have been awarded in the previous two years cannot apply for awards in 2022. The criteria on the basis of which submission will be evaluated are recognition of the phenomenon of discrimination, contribution to reducing stereotypes and prejudices, affirmative reporting, promotion of equality and use of gender sensitive language.

Media texts and contributions should be sent in the period from June 16 to September 15, 2022, to: poverenik@ravnopravnost.gov.rs. The application for the competition should contain a media contribution/text and a short biography of the author with their contact. Application format: for radio and television – a link with the broadcasted contribution, for print and internet media – a link or published text in PDF format.

A first, second and third prize will be awarded in three categories for:

• radio or TV contribution (up to 3 minutes) or report (up to 30 minutes);
• text from daily or weekly press/newspaper;
• online media/portal video or text format.

The expert jury consists of previous winners of the first prize in all three categories, and representatives of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Media Department of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

The best media contributions and the names of the authors will be announced at a conference on November 16, 2022, and subsequently published on the websites and Facebook pages of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

We believe that your media outlet will recognize the importance and significance of this competition, and that you will encourage your colleagues to apply for the competition.