Entries Open for 2005 ADBI Awards for Journalists Reporting on Development

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (20 September 2004) - The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) today announced in Tokyo the opening of the 2005 Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA).

The DAJA awards acknowledge the work of print journalists who cover development trends in the Asia and Pacific region. They are a follow-up to the successful inaugural event held last April.

"The purpose of the awards is to recognize the efforts made by Asian journalists from developing countries and help them expand their audience," according to Peter McCawley, ADBI Dean.

This year they will focus on excellence in journalistic reporting in four strategic areas of development.

Awards will be based on journalists’ published works (including those in translation) during 2004. Winners will be selected by a distinguished jury of practicing journalists and will be invited to an awards ceremony in Tokyo in early April 2005.

Developing Asia Journalism Award Categories

1. Poverty issues
2. People and development
3. Women and development; and
4. Development agencies and development

The winners in each category will receive US$1,500 plus a trophy, and inclusion of their stories in a compendium book. Runner-up prizes are $1,000, $500, and $250, respectively.

Special Prizes

Additional special prizes of $2,000 each will be awarded for:

1. Development Journalist of the Year
2. Development Woman Journalist of the Year (to be awarded should a woman not win the Development Journalist of the Year prize)
3. Young Development Journalist of the Year (under 30 years of age)
4. Islands Journalist Award (Pacific Islands and Maldives)

Special prizes may be given to entrants in the main award categories or to separate entries. ADBI will provide the top four finalists in each category with all-expenses paid trips to Tokyo for a three-day stay for the award ceremony and dinner and a two-day program visiting media agencies.

Closing date for entries is Friday, 14 January 2005, 6:00 p.m. Tokyo time.

For further inquiries, please contact the Journalism Awards Group.