Beirut, 27 January 2010

Press release

The European Union launches the
"Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press" 2010

The contest for the fifth edition of the "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press" is open to candidates from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf until 30 March 2010.

The "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press", which is awarded since 2006 by the European Union in collaboration with the Samir Kassir Foundation, honours the Lebanese journalist and writer Samir Kassir who was assassinated in 2005. It has grown in popularity since its creation, each year witnessing the participation of more candidates from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Gulf. The award rewards two journalists who have proved to be an example to others by the quality of their work in the two following categories:

- the best opinion article;
and
- the best investigative reporting article.

The contest is open to all journalists of the written press (daily, weekly, monthly and online press), who are citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Applicants must submit only one article related to the rule of law or human rights (good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc.).
The jury will be composed of nine voting members from media and civil society, and one observer representing the European Union. The names of the jury members shall be communicated during the prize-giving ceremony which will take place on 2 June 2010 in Beirut. The winner of each category will receive a prize of €12,500.

The contest regulations, application forms, and details of the candidature file are available on the following website: www.samirkassiraward.org

For any questions, a telephone line and an e-mail address are available to candidates:
Hotline: + 961 70 14 17 19
E-mail: coordination@prixsamirkassir.org

Press release

2 June 2009
Results of the 2009 Award
FR / ENG / AR

2 June 2009
Speech of Ambassador Patrick Laurent
ENG / FR / AR

15 January 2009
Launch of the 2009 Award
FR / ENG / AR

2 June 2008
Results of the 2008 Award
FR / ENG / AR

2 June 2008
Speech of Ambassador Patrick Laurent
ENG / FR / AR

8 January 2008
Launching of the 2008 contest
FR / ENG / AR

2 June 2007
Results of the 2007 Award
FR / ENG / AR

15.12.2006
Launching of the 2007 contest
FR / ENG / AR

Speech of Patrick Laurent, EC's Ambassador
FR / AR

2.06.2006
Results of the 2006 Award
FR / ENG / AR / photo

Ceremony opening's speech
FR / AR / photo

19.05.2006
Final meeting of the Jury
FR / ENG

20.03.2006
Launching of the 2006 contest
FR / AR

7.10.2005
1st Announcment
FR / ENG / AR