Deadline: 31 May 2013
Often at personal risk, many journalists around the world work hard to report conflict, corruption and injustice. Their goal is to ensure that the wider world learns about – and better understands – the challenges faced by communities under pressure and may perhaps be spurred into providing help to the desperate.
This work is not usually well-rewarded. Freelancers live from job to job, with financial insecurity, and locally-employed reporters are often on low pay and subjected to harassment or worse when their stories uncover political or business wrongdoing.
TWO AWARDS: It is these two categories of journalists that KSMF honors each year with its two awards: one to a freelance journalist covering international news, the other to a reporter living and working in the developing world or a country in transition.
SUBMISSIONS AND JUDGING: The call for submissions is made in the first quarter of the year, inviting entries from around the world of reports published in the 12 months preceding the deadline, which is usually around mid-year. A panel of judges then assesses the submitted reports, looking not just at the quality of writing but also considering the investigative effort, resourcefulness and often courage involved in getting the story. In short, the judges are looking for the same kind of reporting high standards that Kurt Schork set himself in his journalistic career.
CASH PRIZE: The two winners receive their awards, including a US $5,000 cash prize each, at a ceremony, originally held in New York but since 2006 held in London each November. Their work is celebrated in front of an invited audience drawn from international media and influential bodies concerned with promoting social justice, democracy and global dialogue. The evening features a panel discussion on an important issue current for the year.
SUBMITTING ENTRIES FOR THE ANNUAL KURT SCHORK AWARDS:
The call for 2013 submissions is open. Winners will be announced in November.
Established in 2002 to honour the American freelance journalist Kurt Schork who was killed on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone, the awards recognise the work of reporters who seek to illuminate the human condition through courageous reporting of conflict, corruption, human rights transgressions and other key issues.
DEFINITIONS:
Local reporter: A print journalist employed by a local news outlet and residing in a developing country or nation in transition (non-OECD or EU countries) whose work is published in a local publication, or a local journalist living in and writing about such a country whose work is published globally by an established online publication. Although the primary focus is on individual journalists, submissions from a team of journalists will also be considered.
Freelance journalist: Freelance journalists are individuals who are not employed by a news organization. They are self-employed, providing services either on the basis of time or on the production of editorial materials defined by individual contractual arrangements and earn the majority of their income from journalism.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: enquiries@ksmfund.org
For submissions: via the online entry form
Website: http://www.ksmfund.org
Often at personal risk, many journalists around the world work hard to report conflict, corruption and injustice. Their goal is to ensure that the wider world learns about – and better understands – the challenges faced by communities under pressure and may perhaps be spurred into providing help to the desperate.
This work is not usually well-rewarded. Freelancers live from job to job, with financial insecurity, and locally-employed reporters are often on low pay and subjected to harassment or worse when their stories uncover political or business wrongdoing.
TWO AWARDS: It is these two categories of journalists that KSMF honors each year with its two awards: one to a freelance journalist covering international news, the other to a reporter living and working in the developing world or a country in transition.
SUBMISSIONS AND JUDGING: The call for submissions is made in the first quarter of the year, inviting entries from around the world of reports published in the 12 months preceding the deadline, which is usually around mid-year. A panel of judges then assesses the submitted reports, looking not just at the quality of writing but also considering the investigative effort, resourcefulness and often courage involved in getting the story. In short, the judges are looking for the same kind of reporting high standards that Kurt Schork set himself in his journalistic career.
CASH PRIZE: The two winners receive their awards, including a US $5,000 cash prize each, at a ceremony, originally held in New York but since 2006 held in London each November. Their work is celebrated in front of an invited audience drawn from international media and influential bodies concerned with promoting social justice, democracy and global dialogue. The evening features a panel discussion on an important issue current for the year.
SUBMITTING ENTRIES FOR THE ANNUAL KURT SCHORK AWARDS:
The call for 2013 submissions is open. Winners will be announced in November.
Established in 2002 to honour the American freelance journalist Kurt Schork who was killed on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone, the awards recognise the work of reporters who seek to illuminate the human condition through courageous reporting of conflict, corruption, human rights transgressions and other key issues.
- An online entry form is provided on this website during the submission period and details for postal entries are also given.
- Each entrant is invited to submit up to three articles published between the previous year’s deadline and the latest deadline in any type of print-based media, including newspapers and magazines, or in established online publications. Blogs and personal websites are not eligible.
- There are two categories: (a) for a freelance journalist covering international news; and (b) for a local reporter covering events within their home country or region.
- The stories can be about conflict, human rights, cross-border issues, corruption, or any other controversial matter in a particular country or region. Each submission must demonstrate professionalism, meet international journalistic standards and provide evidence that courage and determination were required in covering the story.
- Entrants must complete the entry form (either an online version or a PDF for printing and posting) and supply supporting documentation such as a CV or resumé about their education and journalistic experience, a passport-type photo and an English translation if their entry has been published in another language. A statement about what was involved in getting the story is also required.
- Incomplete submissions are liable to disqualification.
- We do not accept any entries made outside the submission call period.
- Local reporters and freelance journalists (see definitions below) working anywhere in the world may enter, provided their entries meet the submission criteria set out below. You can use an online form to send your article(s) or download a .pdf form for printing, completing and posting with your entry.
- The deadline for receipt of submissions is midnight (London time), Friday, 31st May, 2013.
- Entries received outside the submission period will not be accepted under any circumstances.
- Submitted articles must have been published between 1st June 2012 and 31st May, 2013.
- Accepted media: any print-based medium, such as newspapers and magazines, or established online publications. Blogs, personal websites and social media pages or channels are not accepted.
- Articles can encompass war reporting, human rights issues, cross-border troubles, corruption or other controversial matters impacting on people’s lives. Judges will be looking for professionalism, high journalistic standards, and evidence of dedication and courage in getting the story.
- You may submit one, two or a maximum of three articles.
- Because of problems with scanned entries and failed links in past years we now require that each article must be provided as a text file - MS Word (.doc or .docx) or similar text format (.rtf), or a PDF of a text file.
- You may supply a URL link to your article(s), or a scan (as a PDF or JPG file) as supporting evidence of the publication context, but your entry will be disqualified if you have not submitted the required text file too.
- a CV or resumé about your education and journalism career.
- a passport-type photo (JPEG, GIF or PNG file, size less than 250Kb).
- an English translation if your original article is in another language.
- a statement explaining what you had to do to get the story.
DEFINITIONS:
Local reporter: A print journalist employed by a local news outlet and residing in a developing country or nation in transition (non-OECD or EU countries) whose work is published in a local publication, or a local journalist living in and writing about such a country whose work is published globally by an established online publication. Although the primary focus is on individual journalists, submissions from a team of journalists will also be considered.
Freelance journalist: Freelance journalists are individuals who are not employed by a news organization. They are self-employed, providing services either on the basis of time or on the production of editorial materials defined by individual contractual arrangements and earn the majority of their income from journalism.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: enquiries@ksmfund.org
For submissions: via the online entry form
Website: http://www.ksmfund.org
