Entries Open for 2006 ADBI Awards for Journalists Reporting on Development

TOKYO, JAPAN (16 December 2005) - The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) today announced in Tokyo the opening of the 2006 Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA).

"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 2005. Winners will be selected by a distinguished jury of practicing journalists and will be invited to an awards ceremony in Manila in early April 2006.

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 Manila for a three-day stay for the award ceremony and dinner and a two-day program.

Closing date for entries is Friday, 17 February 2006, 6:00 p.m. Tokyo time. If you are interested in participating in the 2006 DAJA program, please subscribe to e-newsline, our free, daily e-newsletter about regional development issues. It has samples of the type of stories we are looking for.

For further inquiries, please contact the Journalism Awards Group.