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NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR SAMIR KASSIR PRESS FREEDOM AWARD

The Samir Kassir Foundation and the EU Commission in Lebanon invite journalists and students from the Middle East and North Africa region to submit entries for the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press, a new prize aimed at promoting media freedom and the rule of law.

The award is named after the former Lebanese columnist and academic who was assassinated in June 2005 for criticising Syria's influence in Lebanon.

There are two award categories: Journalists and Young Researchers.

The first category is open to journalists working in print, radio, television or online who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia. Candidates must submit work that has been published or broadcast between 1 January 2005 and 15 April 2006 by a media outlet in one of the above countries or in any of the EU member states. The article or report must be related to the theme of the rule of law.

The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of 15,000 EUR (US$18,200).

The Young Researchers award is open to students born after 2 June 1980 who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia. They must be registered at a public or private university in any of the above countries or in any of the EU member states.

Candidates must submit a dissertation or thesis, published in 2004 or 2005, that addresses one of two themes: press freedom and the rule of law. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 EUR (US$12,100).

The deadline for submitting entries is 15 April 2006.

For complete details, visit: http://prixsamirkassir.org/ or contact coordination@prixsamirkassir.org