UNEP launches award for young environmental journalists
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has launched a major new award – the Young Environmental Journalist Award Africa, for radio, television, print and online journalists aged 25 to 35 years from African countries.
Announcing the new award on Monday, UNEP particularly encouraged African female journalists to apply by submitting one radio, television, print or online report (in English or French) on an environmental issue.
According to a statement publicising the award, written articles must not exceed 3000 words, while radio or television reports should be no longer than six minutes.
The award is made possible through funding support from the Government of the United States of America, while the prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to the USA, where the winner will follow a specially-designed “green itinerary”, interacting with leading environmental projects, green economy projects, scientists and public figures.
The winner will be selected by an independent jury, while the award ceremony will take place during the 26th Session of the UNEP Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from February 21 to 25, 2011.
The statement urged journalists to apply through the award website www.unep.org/yeja before 31st December 2010.
UNEP views that “The winner of the Young Environmental Journalist Award will be a new voice for the environment – one that will help to shape opinion in Africa, and beyond, in years to come.”
By Edmund Smith-Asante