MUMBAI: The Press Club, Mumbai, has called for entries for its annual awards for excellence in writing and photo journalism, expanding the number of awards it gives for the written works.
The Club, which announced two categories for the first time for written works last year, has also instituted a Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding lifetime Contribution to Journalism.
The awards endeavour to promote best practices among journalists and encourage quality writing, fair play and high ethical standards. The Club has been awarding the best performers among photo-journalists in Mumbai for the last 10 years and introduced two categories for writers last year: the K N Prabhu Awards for Excellence in cricket writing, and the Pradeep Shinde Awards for the Excellence in Crime Reporting.
Entries can be in any language but those in Indian languages must carry an English translation. The last date for receipt of entries is 5 April.
Each of the categories of awards has a total cash component of Rs 100,000: the winning article/story will be awarded Rs.75,000 and a citation, while the runners-up will get Rs 25,000 and a citation.
Apart from the Lifetime Achievement Award, the categories of awards for 2012 are:
1. The K N Prabhu Award for Excellence in Cricket Writing instituted by the Press Club and Podar Enterprise.
2. The Pradeep Shinde Award for Excellence in Crime Reporting for the Best Crime story or investigation in 2012.
3. Award for the Best Political Story of the Year for the most outstanding news report / commentary/ investigation related to political events and leaders in the country.
4. Award for the Best Business Story of the Year for the most outstanding news report/ commentary/ analysis in respect of corporate bodies or finance and banking or economic policy-making.
5. Entertainment Writer of the Year Award for the best news Story/report/ analysis of events related to entertainment and celebrities featuring filmed entertainment, television or other mediums.
6. Award for the Best Story on Health / Environment for the most outstanding contributions to bringing the spotlight on a burning or relevant issue concerning health or the environment.
Indian journalists residing anywhere in the country are eligible to apply for the awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be selected by a special jury from among a short-list drawn up by the Managing Committee of the Press Club.
Editors or editorial heads can also nominate stories/articles of journalists working in their charge.
Entries are invited of articles that have been published on an established media platform (newspapers, magazines or websites) and that have been published in calendar year 2011. However, each applicant will be allowed a maximum of 3 entries across all categories.
Entries are required to be recommended/ supported by the Editor or Department Head of media platform.
Entries must be sent as a soft copy to manager@pressclubmumbai.com. This should be followed by a hard copy accompanied by a short CV and address of the journalist author delivered to the Press Club office or posted to: The Manager, The Press Club, Mumbai, Glass House, Azad Maidan, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai - 400 001. The envelope/cover with the article must be marked 'Journalist Award'.
The Awards Ceremony will be held in Mumbai sometime in May 2012. Those winners who are not from Mumbai will be provided air fare to and fro and hotel accommodation.
A distinguished panel of judges in all categories appointed by the Press Club will decide on the winning entries. The decision of the panel will be final.
