On the occasion of 16 November, International Day for Tolerance, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, supported by OSCE Mission in Serbia, will award the best media articles and reports on combating discrimination and promotion of equality and tolerance with Annual Media Award, for a third year in a row. Contest goal is media promotion of values such are: equality, tolerance, suppression of prejudice and stereotypes to minority, marginalized and vulnerable groups, as well as increasing the institution’s visibility.

Journalists from all printed and electronic media, local and national, registered in Serbia, who published articles on contest topics in period between 5 September 2016 to 5 September 2017, have right to apply. Several journalists from the same media house can apply, but with only one article / report per person. Criteria for evaluation of participants are: detecting discrimination as a phenomenon, busting stereotypes and prejudice, affirmative reporting, equality promotion and using gender sensitive language. Maximum duration should be 3 minutes for radio and TV reports and 30 minutes for coverage, in order to be considered.

Media articles and reports should be sent between 5 June and 5 September 2017 at: poverenik@ravnopravnost.gov.rs. Contest application should include media article / report and short CV with author’s contact information. Application format: for radio and TV – link to broadcasted report, for print and internet media – link and published article in PDF.

Winners of the first prize will visit one of European media houses that have good practice in reporting on human rights.

Awards will be given in three categories:

• First, second and third for radio/TV report
• First, second and third for printed/online article
• First, second and third for radio/TV reportage lasting up to 30 min.

Panel of judges will consist of: first prize winners in all three categories for 2016 – Biljana Radulović (RTS), Nadežda Gaće (Novi Magazin), Bojana Milovanović (agencija Beta), Gordana Janković, Media Department Chief in OSCE Mission in Serbia and Antigona Andonov, Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality.

Since the last year, student of journalism from accredited state and private faculties in Serbia, have the right to participate if they have published articles / reports in student media, with topics and formats prescribed in contest. They will compete apart from stated categories and winners will be awarded Certificate of Appreciation.

The best media reports in contest and authors names will be announced on 16 November 2017 and after will be published on web sites and Facebook pages of Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and OSCE Mission in Serbia.

We believe that your media outlet will recognize the importance and significance of this contest and that you will encourage your colleagues to apply. For all additional information please contact Tamara Vlaškalin: tamara.vlaskalin@ravnopravnost.gov.rs or by phone: 011 243 64 64 and 011 243 80 20.