OSCE Mission launches award for best education coverage in BiH

SARAJEVO, 20 November 2002 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today launched an award scheme for exemplary journalistic coverage of education issues. The winners of the prizes, totalling 3.000 KM, will be announced in March 2003.

Ambassador Robert Beecroft, Head of the Mission, said encouraging journalists to focus on education issues was a part of a public awareness campaign, started in October by the OSCE and Office of the High Representative, which stresses the need for education reform.

"The campaign focuses on the efforts already made to improve education in BiH, as well as further action needed. These Education Media Awards are intended to encourage media and journalists to discuss education matters in the widest sense, not only in the coming months, but to firmly place education amongst the topics regularly covered by media", he added.

The media awards will be open to all BiH journalists: radio, TV, print and photo. Those interested in participating should send articles, photos, features and other material about education, published during the period 20 November 2002 to 1 March 2003, direct to the OSCE Mission. Both letters and emails should be clearly marked "Education awards". The OSCE will retain the right to use the journalists' submissions in its publications.

The three journalists to receive the awards will be selected by an independent seven-member jury representing journalists and education experts.

The jury members are: Prof. Besim Spahic, Faculty of Political Science and Academy of Fine Arts; Mrs. Senada Cumurovic, BH Radio 1 Director; Mrs. Snezana Musa, Deputy Dean, Mostar University; Prof. Aleksandar Bogdanic, Professor, Director of Communications Faculty Banja Luka; Mrs. Nada Puvacic, RTRS Education Programme Editor; Mrs. Rahela Dzidic, CIVITAS, participant in Education Reform working groups; and Mr. Boro Kontic, Director the Soros Media Centre.