The Young environmental journalist of the year award 2006
~Call for Submissions - Deadline May 30, 2006~
Earthwatch Institute (Europe) and BBC Wildlife Magazine today launched the prestigious Young Environmental Journalist of the Year Award 2006. The award will see one young writer scoop the opportunity to undertake a life-changing experience on an Earthwatch research expedition and have their work featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Earthwatch and BBC Wildlife are inviting young journalists ‘in the making' between the ages of 16 and 25 to apply for the award, which acknowledges an exceptional piece of journalistic work by a young person.
Participants will be asked to interview somebody who they consider to be an environmental hero and write a 500-word profile of the person, assessing what they have achieved and what motivates them, while also demonstrating their own personal knowledgeable and passion for the environment. The writer should be objective and accurate in their research; and creative enough to capture and hold the interest of the reader. The winning article will be published in BBC Wildlife Magazine.
As part of the prize, the award winner will spend up to two weeks on an international Earthwatch research expedition, where s/he will work alongside leading scientists and play a direct role in helping to gather information that will influence conservation management plans. The winner will have three expeditions to choose from and they could find themselves tracking elephants in Sri Lanka's national parks, monitoring dolphins in the Mediterranean or identifying tropical orchids in the foothills of the Himalayas.
"This award is designed to inspire the next generation of environmental writers at a time when the world really needs excellent journalism to raise awareness of important environmental issues and to demonstrate how relevant they are to everyone's lives," says Nigel Winser, Chief Executive of Earthwatch Institute (Europe).
This award is kindly funded by the Max Nicholson Fund, named after the late conservationist, ornithologist, writer and civil servant, Max Nicholson who in his lifetime helped found Earthwatch Institute (Europe) and WWF, and inspired nature reserves and ecological research around the world.
Among the judges will be Richard Donkin of the Financial Times, Zac Goldsmith, editor of the Ecologist, as well as James Fair, environment editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine.
The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2006. For more information about the award and conditions of entry, pick up the March issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine at all good newsagents or visit http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/.
For press information, interviews and images, contact Zoe Gamble, Senior Press Officer, Earthwatch, on + 44 (0) 1865 318 852 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk
Editors Notes