IFJ extends deadline for entries

The IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize for South Asia is about promoting tolerance, combating racism and discrimination and contributing to an understanding of cultural, religious and ethnic differences.

The Prize is an annual competition among journalists from all sectors of media with a simple objective: to promote better understanding among journalists from all communities of the importance of tolerance and defence of human rights, particularly when it comes to reporting on minorities.

The Prize rewards individuals and their work, promoting bench marks on how to tackle discrimination in whatever form it comes - whether on the basis of langauge, religion or ethnic origin the IFJ states in a press release. The Prize promotes editorial independence, high standards of professionalism and journalists' ethics, and diversity in media.

Prizes will be awarded for different categories of media: print/on-line (including photography), broadcast radio and television. Finalists are short-listed by an eminent jury from the region. Winners and finalists will receive a certificate of recognition.

Entry is free and will close on June 15 and is open to all media including television, radio, photography and print/on-line. Entries must have been published/broadcast between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004. Entries will be accepted in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Send entries clearly marked "IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize" to: The Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Lake House Employees Union Office, Lake House, Colombo 10. The Federation will forward all entries to the IFJ South Asia office India.