Background Materials

The Asian Development Bank Institute, based in Tokyo, is sponsoring a series of Developing Asia Journalism Awards to acknowledge Asian and Pacific print journalists, who cover development trends and the impact these have on the countries and people of the region. The awards, which are a major new initiative of ADBI’s public affairs outreach, will focus on excellence in journalistic reporting in six strategic areas of development.

The winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of independent judges, comprising practicing journalists and academic experts in the field of communications.

Purpose and Scope of the Awards

The purpose of the awards is to be a public recognition of the efforts made by Asian and Pacific print journalists from developing countries, who provide high-quality, balanced coverage of the real issues affecting growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The guidelines section below sets out broadly the award categories scope. Entrants will find that this provides a useful context for their writing. Entries do not have to be strictly within these categories, however, and examples of good reporting an analysis on a very wide range of development issues will be considered for the awards, including the Special Prizes.

An independent panel of judges will ensure that the awards go to those whose reporting and writing is most honest, accurate and incisive, no matter what subject they choose and what approach they take.

Guidelines

The Asian Development Bank has identified three core and three crosscutting strategies that are part of the Bank's Long Term Strategic Framework. These six areas form the broad areas which entries for the Asian Development Journalism Awards will cover.

These six categories for awards are indicative. Entries that cover other development themes such as agriculture, land reform, industrial policy, infrastructure, welfare, education, gender, etc., that have a link to any of these six themes may also be submitted.

Journalism Entries

Eligibility for entry:

1. Initially applicable to Asian and Pacific Island nationals from eligible developing member countries who are print journalists working in newspapers, magazines, wire services, and electronic media sites within the region.
2. Entries between 700 to 2000 words.
3. Limit of three story entries per journalist, per category. No more than two theme categories may be entered.
4. Entries in English (or regional languages with accompanying English translation). Unfortunately, regional language entries that are not accompanied by English translations cannot be accepted.
5. Regional balance and representation of local newspapers will be an important consideration in the selection process.

Prize Categories

1. Six awards representing the six main theme categories listed above.
2. Each award will have three prizes, representing first, second, and third position.
3. Additional Special Prizes to be selected from the main entries or separate applications include:
• Development Journalist of the Year
• Development Woman Journalist of the Year (to be awarded should a woman not win the Development Journalist of the Year prize)
• Young Development Journalist of the Year (under 30 years of age)
• Islands Journalist Award (Pacific Islands and Maldives)

Prizes and Award Ceremony

1. Winner in each category – U.S. $1,500 plus a trophy, and inclusion in compendium book.
2. 1st Runner-up prize in each category – $1,000, plaque and inclusion in compendium book.
3. 2nd Runner-up in each category – $500 and honorable mention certificate.
4. Special Prizes – $2,000 plus a trophy, and inclusion in compendium book.
5. The ADBI will provide the top three finalists in each category with all-expenses paid trips to Tokyo for a three-day stay for the award ceremony and dinner and a two-day program visiting media agencies and familiarization with ADBI, currently scheduled for first week of April 2004.

Rules

1. Entries must be the work of individual journalists and must have been published in a regional newspaper, magazine, or by a news wire service or on-line website within the last three calendar years—between 1 January 2001 to 27 February 2004.
2. Journalists may enter for no more than two general theme categories and two special prizes.
3. Journalists are entitled to only one theme award, but may also receive a special prize award.
4. Entries must be accompanied by an Application Form (available online) and a letter of recommendation from the Editor of the newspaper or publishing firm. It would be useful if the letter of support could outline how the entry has contributed to development issues in the country.
5. Entries may be accompanied with reference notes on the context of the story, brief summary or description of project, the degree of difficulty faced in completing it and sources.
6. Every entry must conform to the stated limits on article number, length, and categories of submission.
7. The jury shall not be bound to award a prize in any categories where they do not feel that the quality of entries merits it.
8. Submission deadline for 2004 Awards — Friday, 27 February 2004, 6PM Tokyo time.
   
   By hard copy or fax to (No electronic or email submissions of entries please)
   
   Developing Asia Journalism Awards
   Asian Development Bank Institute
   Kasumigaseki Building 8F 2-5 Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-6008,
   Japan Fax: +81 3 3593-5571