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WAN CREATES NEW AWARD TO HONOUR SLAIN LEBANESE JOURNALIST

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has created a new award to recognise editors and publishers in the Arab world who show courage and leadership in defending press freedom and promoting excellence in journalism.

Named in honour of Lebanese journalist Gebran Tueni, who was killed in a bomb attack in Beirut on 12 December 2005, the annual award will provide an editor or publisher of an Arabic-language publication with a 10,000 Euros (US$12,000) grant for training in newspaper management.

The grant will enable the award winner to undertake advanced newspaper leadership training through the training institute of "An-Nahar", Gebran Tueni's newspaper in Lebanon. WAN will also provide additional forms of support to the awardee.

The award jury will consist of representatives of WAN and the Tueni family. The inaugural award will be presented at a conference in Beirut in September or October that will seek to draw attention to the threats against a free press in the Lebanon and elsewhere in the Arab world.

Under Tueni's leadership, "An-Nahar" was a beacon for independent journalism in the Arab world, says WAN. Gebran was also an active board member of WAN, serving on its Press Freedom Committee and regularly participating in press freedom missions.

Enquiries about the award should be addressed to Timothy Balding of WAN at: tbalding@wan.asso.fr.

Visit: http://www.wan-press.org/article9391.html