TURKEY: P24 announces the EU Award for Investigative Journalism
P24, the Istanbul-based Platform for Independent Journalism will administer for the second year running, the European Union award for investigative journalism in Turkey. Total prize money for the three winners will be € 10,000.
Jury members will reserve one of the prizes to recognize the work of journalists under the age of 35.
“This is designed to encourage younger journalists, many of whom have witnessed systematic sacking of journalists under political pressures,” according to Yavuz Baydar, National Coıordinator and a founding member of P24.
“Once upon a time young people saw journalism as a dream profession. We are trying to restore that hope.”
The award is the brainchild of the South East European Network for the Professionalization of Media of which P24 is a member. It is promoted and sponsored by the European Union Commission.
In all, seven countries participate in the scheme which is coordinated by the Peace Institute based in Ljubljana.
The award is intended to arrest the decline of media standards in a region all too accustomed to tacit censorship. “Governments and proprietors often collude in trying to prevent reporters from scrutinizing corruption and abuses of power and corruption. This EU award is a tonic for our ailing professional and keeps alive hopes for a democratic order, based on accountability and transparency,' Baydar said.
The prize is open to print, broadcast and online media and to work that first appeared during the 2015 calendar year. The deadline for the entries is 15 April, 2016. Journalists are encouraged to submit their own work. Those nominating the work of others can do so with the responsible journalists’ consent.
“Emphasis will be given to stories that deepened understanding of social issues and promoted the public interest,” according to the contest rubric. The five jury members are instructed to pay attention to the quality of research and wealth of sources underpinning the news.
Last year’s top prize was given to Fatih Yağmur of the now defunct Radikal newspaper for his exposé of guns and munitions running to Syria by Turkish national intelligence.
''This award gains value every time it is made,” said P24’s Baydar.
Information about and entry forms for European Union award for investigative journalism in Turkey can be obtained from the platform24.org website or by writing to euaward@platform24.org
