The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)is seeking nominations for its 2008 Courage in Journalism Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award. The Courage in Journalism Awards honor women journalists who have demonstrated extraordinary strength of character in pursuing their profession under difficult or dangerous circumstances, such as government oppression, political pressure, physical danger or other intimidating obstacles.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a woman journalist who has a pioneering spirit and whose determination has paved the way for future generations of women in the media.
Previous Courage in Journalism Award winners include Lydia Cacho, CIMAC news agency and Dia Siete, Mexico; Jill Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, United States; May Chidiac, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Lebanon; Anna Politkovskaya (d. 2006), Novaya Gazeta, Russia; Anja Niedringhaus, Associated Press, Germany; Gwen Lister, The Namibian, Namibia and Mabel Rehnfeldt, ABC Color, Paraguay.
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners include Peta Thornycroft, Zimbabwe; Elena Poniatowska, journalist and author, Mexico; Molly Ivins, syndicated columnist, United States; Barbara Walters, ABC News, United States and Magdalena Ruiz, Radio Mitre, Argentina.
Nominations for the 2008 awards will be accepted by the IWMF until March 1, 2008.
Candidates for the Courage in Journalism Awards may be full-time, part-time or freelance women reporters, writers, editors, photographers or producers working in any country. Lifetime Achievement Award candidates may be either working or retired journalists. All nominations must be in English, and all nomination forms for both the Courage in Journalism Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award must be completed by a professional associate.
The IWMF Courage in Journalism and Lifetime Achievement Awards carry a cash prize of $5,000 each. Awardees will travel to Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., for approximately two weeks in October for awards ceremonies and other events, as well as press interviews and speaking engagements.
For further information about the awards and to learn how to nominate a journalist, visit the IWMF website at www.iwmf.org/courage/nominate.php.
