The 2024 Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF) Awards in International Journalism honor journalists who show exceptional talent and bravery in reporting on global issues like conflict and human rights abuses. These awards were started in 2002 to remember Kurt Schork, an acclaimed journalist who died while reporting in Sierra Leone. The KSMF Awards aim to celebrate his legacy and support aspiring journalists committed to covering important stories worldwide.
The KSMF Awards in International Journalism are open to journalists from all countries. This includes freelance journalists, staff journalists, and local reporters who have shown excellence in reporting on global topics like conflict, human rights, and social justice. The awards recognize exceptional journalism that covers issues such as conflict, corruption, injustice, and human rights.
Winners of the awards receive a $5,000 cash prize to honor their excellence and bravery in reporting on conflict, corruption, injustice, and human rights issues.
Type: Award
Deadline
Application Deadline: May 31, 2024
Award Category for the Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism
The awards honor media professionals Kurt admired and are open to print and online reporters in three categories:
- Freelance Award: Recognizes freelance journalists who bravely report from conflict zones worldwide, often facing personal risks to cover the impact and aftermath of these events.
- Local Reporter Award: Acknowledges the crucial work of journalists in developing nations or countries in transition, highlighting events within their homeland that might otherwise go unnoticed.
- News Fixer Award: Recognizes the contributions of local journalists or experts who assist foreign correspondents in challenging, dangerous, or hostile locations. Their local knowledge and guidance are essential for international coverage but often go unrecognized.
Benefits for Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism
The benefits may include:
- Recognition for excellence in reporting: Winners are acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to international journalism.
- Cash prize: Recipients receive a $5,000 cash award to support their journalistic work, with amounts varying each year.
- Networking opportunities: Winning this award can lead to new connections and collaborations in the journalism community.
- Professional development: It serves as a career milestone, validating and encouraging journalists to maintain high-quality reporting.
- Increased visibility: Winning boosts visibility and credibility in the industry, potentially opening doors to new career paths.
Eligibility Criteria for Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism
- Journalists from any country and nationality are eligible to apply.
- Submissions must consist of original reporting published or broadcast between June 1 of the previous year and May 31 of the current year.
- Both freelance and staff journalists are welcome to apply.
- Entries can include print, broadcast, or online media content.
- Journalists must submit their work, nominations by third parties are not accepted.
How to Apply for Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism
To apply, go to our website at https://ksmfund.org/submissions/ and follow these steps:
- For the Local Reporter Award, submit three articles each.
- Articles must be published between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.
- Accepted media: print-based mediums like newspapers, magazines, or established online publications. Blogs, personal websites, and social media pages or channels are not accepted.
- Articles can cover war reporting, human rights issues, cross-border troubles, corruption, or other impactful matters. Judges seek professionalism, high journalistic standards, and evidence of dedication and courage in obtaining the story.
- Each article must be provided as a text file (MS Word (.doc or .docx), .rtf, or a PDF of a text file). URLs or scans (PDF or JPG) are allowed as supporting evidence but text files are required to avoid disqualification due to scanning issues or broken links.
Documentation Requirements for Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism
Documents required for your application include:
- A CV or resume detailing your education and journalism career.
- A passport-quality photo of yourself (JPEG, GIF, or PNG file, under 250Kb).
- An English translation of your articles if they are not originally in English.
- A brief statement describing the efforts you made to acquire the story.
Please ensure that text submissions or scans do not exceed 5Mb in file size. Entrants must fill out the online entry form or use a printable PDF if online submission is not possible.
Conclusion:
The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Awards in International Journalism are a symbol of excellence and inspiration for journalists worldwide. They honor those who courageously report from the frontlines to uncover vital stories. These awards keep Kurt Schork’s legacy alive, highlighting journalism’s power in promoting understanding and accountability in our ever-changing world.
FAQs
Can I submit previously published or broadcasted work?
Yes, submissions must be original reporting done between June 1 of the previous year and May 31 of the current year. However, work that has previously won a KSMF award cannot be resubmitted.
Is there an application fee for the KSMF Awards?
No, there is no application fee required to submit your work for consideration.
How are the winners chosen?
Winners are selected by a panel of experienced journalists and industry professionals based on the quality, impact, and relevance of their reporting.
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