Objectives

The aim of the HIV and AIDS Red Ribbon Media Award for Excellence in Journalism is twofold; firstly, to identify and reward exceptional reporting on HIV and AIDS, and secondly, to motivate journalists to increase their frequency of coverage on the subject, in their outlets. The award covers three categories, namely: Radio, Television, and Print.

The Prize                                                                  

The top prize for each category is 1500 US dollars, plus a certificate of achievement. The second and third places will each receive 750 and 500 US dollars respectively and a certificate of achievement.

Eligibility

Radio, Television, and Print/online journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Rwanda, and Burundi are eligible to participate.

How to enter

Simply fill in the official application form and send it by mail, e-mail or fax it along with your completed entry form to the addresses provided below. There are no entry fees. More information is available at http://aids-africa.unon.org/AwardBackground.htm

Entry Rules

1. Participation is open to print/on-line, radio, or television journalists employed by the local media of the countries in the region. They should submit one entry previously published or broadcast in the general news media on the subject of HIV and AIDS.
2. Each entrant can compete only once a year and may submit one article or a series of reports on the same subject.
3. Judges will present an award to the best entries in three categories as follows: a) Print/on-line b) Radio and c) Television.
4. All entries must have been published or broadcast between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005 inclusive.
5. The deadline for submission of all entries is September 30, 2006.
6. The prize winners will receive a Red Ribbon Media Award Certificate of Excellence and a financial award.
7. UNESCO reserves the right to use all material submitted for the award in any way and media, and to reproduce it for the purposes of promoting the Red Ribbon Media Award and for allowing a telecast of the awards presentation ceremony. 
8. Each entry must be submitted with the written consent of the author.
9. All entrants are required to provide proof that they are bona fides journalists and must certify that the entry is their original work, apart from normal sub-editorial/production treatment.

10. All entries should declare any subsequent formal corrections, challenges to the accuracy of an entry or claims of plagiarism or defamation against the work.
11. Applicants should keep copies of all material and applications submitted, as organizers will not return entries.
12. All entries must be in English. Where this is not possible, it is obligatory that the journalists provide certified translations of their work. 
13. Where the entry is a collaborative effort, all major contributors should be included e.g.; producers, researchers, journalists and editors, at the time the entry is lodged.  A team entry may comprise of a maximum of five individuals.
14. An independent five-person jury made up of respected professionals in the field of HIV/AIDS as well as the media will examine the entries and choose a winner for each of the three categories.
15. The jury may take a decision to award NO prize in any category.
16. The decision of the jury will be final. The jury has the right to reject an entry, which, in their opinion, does not comply with the requirements of the competition. The jury reserves the right to withdraw a prize should it emerge that an entrant did not comply with the entry conditions.
17. Prizewinners will be chosen based on journalistic excellence. The jury will however also consider the entries in relation to the objectives of promoting tolerance, combating discrimination, stigmatization, and contribution to an understanding of HIV/AIDS and those affected and infected. Consideration will be given to general criteria including; newsworthiness, research, writing, production, incisiveness, impact, public benefit, ethics, originality, innovation and creative flair. The jury will take regard of the resources available and effort expanded in the preparation of the work.

 Entries to Print/On-line Category;

Print journalists must supply full-page tear sheet*of the work, where possible.

On-Line journalists must send a floppy disk or a CD-ROM in HTML format or an internet address that can be viewed (unaltered) for judging from January 2005- December 31 2005. A senior editorial manager must certify that the work was published on an Internet site.

Entries for Radio Category;

Radio entries must on a standard audio cassette/CD of the report and one copy of the script, if available. The tape should be clearly marked bearing the name and the country of the entrant as well as an address and a telephone number. The duration of the program should be marked on the tape.

Entries for Television Category;

Television entrants must supply a standard VHS tape/CD of the report and one copy of the script, if available. The tape/CD should be clearly marked bearing the name and the country of the entrant as well as an address and a telephone number. The duration of the program should be marked on the tape/CD.

*Where a tear sheet of the original work is not available, a high quality certified copy would be acceptable.

All entries must be marked clearly, Red Ribbon Media Award!

Source: UNICEF, Sept 6, 2006