for Best Journalism

from a conflict zone

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Applications are accepted in any language from any country. This includes works by freelancers, alternative media, and independent journalism platforms.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

FOR BEST JOURNALISM FROM A CONFLICT ZONE

Works must have been filmed in or written while reporting from a conflict zone.

A conflict zone is defined as an area currently experiencing continuous armed confrontation between two or more groups of people. It often involves governmental armed forces and private armed groups.According to the UN, a conflict zone has some or all of the following characteristics:
- humanitarian suffering on an enormous scale
- numerous armed factions
- collapse of the civil infrastructure
- absence of governance and legal system
- absence of individual security
- possibility of ethnic cleansing and genocide
- large numbers of displaced civilians and refugees
- unchallenged criminal activities
For reference, here is a map of the current conflict zone areas according to IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks), a news agency providing independent analysis from hotspots in more than 70 countries. IRIN was originally founded as part of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
FOR BEST HUMANITARIAN JOURNALISM AFTER WAR

А new category being introduced in 2021. It will highlight both video and written reporting on post-conflict recovery, ranging from individual human stories to efforts of entire communities.

Objective reporting of humanitarian crises after the war could help prevent future disasters and shed light on humanitarian assistance and protection.

We are looking for stories that inspired and encouraged changes after the conflict or that deal with multi-year trauma:
- conflicts (e.g. Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan)
- civil wars (e.g. Ethiopia, Mexico, Somalia, Congo)
- revolutions (e.g. Nicaragua, Cuba)
Stories could emphasize the relevance and nature of post-conflict growth: economic recovery, avoiding renewed conflict, reducing the risk of conflict via public services, the personal experiences of those who were affected by conflict.
THE VIDEO OR WRITTEN PIECE MUST HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED ON A MEDIA PLATFORM OR BY A MEDIA ORGANIZATION BETWEEN 1ST OF JANUARY 2020 AND 30TH OF AUGUST 2021.
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED IN ANY LANGUAGE FROM ANY COUNTRY.

This includes works by freelancers, alternative media, and independent journalism platforms.
SUBMISSIONS THAT WERE THE RESULT OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT — EITHER WRITTEN OR VIDEO — SHOULD INCLUDE THE NAMES OF THE CONTRIBUTORS WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE TITLES.

Submissions should then be made under the name(s) of one or two persons who, if the work is selected as a winner, will accept the award.
ALL WRITTEN WORKS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION, AND ALL VIDEO ENTRIES SHOULD HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES.

For more information on English translation, see Technical Requirements.

* Please note, freelancers who have previously worked with RT—whether they have been published on RT or not—must demonstrate that they have worked for other sites, platforms, or organizations, to be eligible.

JUDGING CRITERIA

ALL SUBMITTED WORKS WILL BE JUDGED ON THEIR INFORMATIONAL VALUE, ACCURACY, AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONFLICT BEING DISCUSSED.

PRIZE

WINNERS OF THE 2021 KHALED ALKHATEB INTERNATIONAL MEMORIAL AWARDS WILL RECEIVE A MONETARY PRIZE OF 200 THOUSAND RUBLES (OR FOREIGN CURRENCY EQUIVALENT).

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Video

Videos must be directly uploaded through the application system.
File size should not exceed 1 GB, even if the video is longer than 15 minutes.
If the original language is not English, English subtitles should be added to the original video with accurate timing. Any profanity should be starred out/made inaudible.
In addition to subtitles, a separate document with the video script — in the original language and in translated English — should be submitted in Word format.
A YouTube link to the video should be provided. If the video has not yet been uploaded to the YouTube platform, please do so before submitting your application.
When uploading your video to the YouTube platform, please be sure it meets the technical requirements specified HERE: Container Format: MP4, Video Codec: H.264, Audio Codec: AAC, Frames per Second (FPS): 25, 30, Video Resolution: 720p, Video Aspect Ratio: 16:9, Bitrate: 5 Mbps, Stereo Audio Bitrate: 384 kbps, Audio Bitrate (5.1): 512 kbps.

Written

Written works should be submitted as a Word document.
If the original is not in English, an additional translated version of the piece should be submitted in Word format.
Submissions — whether a stand-alone piece or a compilation — cannot exceed 10,000 words.
If the piece is part of a continuing news story, a compilation of up to five stories can be submitted. To be considered a continuing news story, the series of reports must cover the same topic.

KEY DATES

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.

The winners will be announce on late December.