Call for Entries: Amnesty International Australia’s Media Awards

Journalists reporting on human rights issues can now be nominated in Amnesty International Australia’s 2015 Media Awards.

The Awards cover 6 categories acknowledging the role journalists play in bringing human rights issues to public attention and the dangers journalists can face around the world for doing their job. Last year Australian journalist Peter Greste and his Al Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were all recognised.

Karen Trentini, Amnesty International Australia Media Manager said, “Here in Australia, freedom of speech is being curtailed with workers on offshore detention centres gagged from speaking publicly about deplorable conditions and abuse. Amnesty International itself has been denied access to the Nauru detention centre – a visit took place in late 2012, however, since then one request for access has been denied and two more have not received a response. We are also concerned that Edward Snowden’s revelations of government surveillance add to fears of speaking out on a multitude of human rights issues.”

“This is not an easy time to be a journalist. We want to publicly recognise the journalists who go above and beyond to provide exceptional coverage of human rights issues,” said Karen Trentini.

This year the awards have expanded to six categories: Print / Online, Radio, Television, Photography,
Indigenous reporting, Cartoon.

http://www.amnesty.org.au/event/media-awards-2015

Entries close on 14 August 2015