The Lorenzo Natali Awards are organised by the European Commission. Through the awards, the commission honours journalists who write about democracy, human rights and the developing world.
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, says: "The Lorenzo Natali Prize is a symbol of the freedom of speech that is our duty to promote. Without information, without the media, the world loses its memory of the past, its awareness of the present and the debate about the future. That is why, through the Lorenzo Natali Prize, Europe offers its support to journalists who speak out to defend development, democracy and human rights."
This year, the award, has been opened to radio and television journalists across the globe, after years of being restricted to only print and online journalists.
The award will be rewarded to fifteen journalists from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab World and the Middle East. Up to 1500 journalists from 164 countries are expected to apply for the prize.
However, only the final 15 will be hosted and recognised in November at a special ceremony to be attended by Louis Michel during the European Development Days in France.
Last years Africa winners included; South Africa's Tanya Farber (1st Prize), Uganda's Robert Mugagga (2nd Prize), and Nigeria's George Lucky (3rd prize).
According to a statement from the commission, each applicant can only submit one journalist work or one extract of journalistic work published or aired between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.
“The fifteen winners of the Lorenzo Natali Prize will be guests of honour of the European Commission during a stay in France. Each winner will receive a trophy and a prize. Overall, 50,000 euros of prize-money will reward the best works,” the communique added.
Applications to be sent to John Wallford at . Application forms are available on www.nataliprize2008.eu.
