Call for Nominations - CJFE International Press Freedom Awards & Tara Singh
Hayer Award

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - In dozens of countries around the world, journalists regularly face obstacles in order to get the news out. Whether the threats be judicial, physical or otherwise, these dedicated and principled individuals continue to work tirelessly - often risking their lives - so that the news media remain free.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) bestows two International Press Freedom Awards every year in recognition of the courage of journalists who work tirelessly - often risking their lives - so that the news media remain free. In 2009, CJFE honoured journalists from Iran and Russia.

CJFE also awards The Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award to recognise a Canadian journalist who, through his or her work, has made an important contribution to reinforcing and promoting the principle of freedom of the press in this country or elsewhere.

In 1999, the Canadian Press Freedom Award was re-named in honour of Tara Singh Hayer, a Canadian journalist and editor of the Vancouver-based Indo-Canadian Times, who was assassinated in November 1998. His murder demonstrated that protecting freedom of expression is a matter of concern not just beyond Canada's borders.

Nomination Criteria for the International Press Freedom Award

    
    The winner of the award will be a journalist or media organisation who:
    -   reports on human rights issues or other issues, or from regions or
        countries, not often covered by other media;
    -   demonstrates a commitment to human rights by reporting without bias,
        sexism, racism, etc.;
    -   has not won a major press freedom award from another organization;
    -   will benefit from international exposure due to the
        difficulty/threats caused by their work;
    -   has overcome enormous odds simply to produce the news;
    -   and has taken personal risks or suffered physical reprisals for
        working as a journalist.

    Nomination Criteria for the Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award

    The winner of the award will be a journalist who fits one or more of the
    criteria:
    -   has highlighted cases of media repression in Canada or around the
        world;
    -   has chronicled attempts at or actual censorship;
    -   work has involved difficult-to-obtain access to information requests;
    -   has taken personal risks or suffered physical reprisals for working
        as a journalist;
    -   has overcome enormous odds simply to produce the news.
    

To be eligible for the awards, applicants must be nominated by an organisation or individual. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Download a Nomination form here http://cjfe.org/awards06/nominationform.html.

This should be accompanied by a cover letter and samples of the nominee's work if applicable.

Each award consists of a framed plaque and cash prize of CDN $3,000. They will be presented to the winner at a ceremony in Toronto in November 2010.

Submissions must reach CJFE by April 30, 2010

For further information: or to submit a nomination, please contact Julie Payne at CJFE, 555 Richmond St. West, Suite 1101, PO Box 407, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3B1, Canada, tel: [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [email protected], www.cjfe.org