The International Press Institute (IPI) on Friday launched a call for World Press Freedom Hero Award nominations, to coincide with its 60th year of defending and promoting press freedom worldwide.

IPI will honour a total of 60 World Press Freedom Heroes in a ceremony at the IPI World Congress in Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia from 11 to 14 September 2010.

In 2000, on the occasion of IPI’s 50th anniversary, IPI honoured 50 World Press Freedom Heroes at its World Congress in Boston. Two additional press freedom heroes – Hrant Dink and Anna Politkovskaya – were selected by the IPI Executive Board and honoured posthumously in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Eight must still be chosen to make up the full 60 for this year’s ceremony.

IPI World Press Freedom Heroes are individuals who have made a significant contribution to the defence and promotion of press freedom over the past 60 years, especially – but not only – if this involved acts of resistance or bravery under harsh conditions.

The nominations process launched today is open to all IPI members.

A jury, composed of five longstanding members of IPI will be responsible for selecting the final eight heroes from a list of those nominated.

“We count on input from our members around the world,” said IPI Director David Dadge. “Their commitment to the fundamental principles and values of independent journalism places them in an immensely strong position to nominate individuals who have courageously fought to promote press freedom around the globe.”

IPI World Press Freedom Heroes generally fall into three broad categories:

1) Press Freedom Defenders:
Persons who have made a significant contribution to press freedom in their country by providing independent news coverage, opinions and views under difficult and often dangerous conditions. To defend press freedom, they have risked arrest, imprisonment, and violence against themselves and their families.

2) The Victims of Press Freedom Violations:
Persons who were deliberately targeted and killed, because of their work or opinions.

3) Press Freedom Promoters & Protectors:
Persons who have (a) made critical contributions to press freedom on a global basis; or (b) profoundly strengthened the free press in their own country, often risking their careers and/or professional reputations in the process.

IPI intends to unveil one hero every month over the next eight months in the run-up to the IPI World Congress in September 2010, and will be inviting all surviving heroes of the full 60 to attend the ceremony.

To nominate a World Press Freedom Hero, please Email:

IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills at [email protected]

Or

IPI Press Freedom Adviser Barbara Trionfi at [email protected]

Alternatively you can write to IPI at:

International Press Institute
Spiegelgasse 2/29
A1010 Vienna
Austria

Or fax:

+43 1 512 90 14