Nominations open for Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards

Nominations have opened for the annual Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards organised by Oxfam's Asylum Positive Images Network. The awards, now in their fourth year, highlight positive and influential reporting about asylum and refugee-related issues within the Scottish media.

Judged by a panel, which includes exiled journalists and people seeking asylum in Scotland, the awards will recognise journalists who have demonstrated a positive contribution to the wider understanding of the asylum debate. Entries will be considered in terms of accuracy, originality, impact and objectivity.

Nominations close on Friday 9th May, and can be made by journalists or members of the public. The awards have four categories: Broadcast media, National print media, Local print media and Photography. The article, photograph or broadcast piece must have featured in the Scottish media between 1st May 2007 and 30th April 2008.

Speaking as nominations open, Awards Co-ordinator Jason Bergen of Oxfam, said: " Scottish journalists are setting the standard across the United Kingdom when it comes to reporting asylum matters, and we have seen a distinct improvement in reporting over recent years. However it is important that the quality of reporting remains high and that is why we are once again asking for nominations for the Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards."

Pooja Soni, from Afghanistan, who is on the judging panel, said: " The media is very influential when it comes to presenting images of asylum seekers but with that comes responsibility. Asylum seekers are in Scotland to seek protection from persecution, but all too often the debate on asylum and refugee matters does not reflect that at all.

" In the past the Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards have received some very high calibre nominations and we hope that this year will be no different."For details on how to enter or make a nomination to the awards please contact Jason Bergen on 0141 285 8884 or via jbergen@oxfam.org.uk or via the Oxfam Scotland website, www.oxfam.org.uk/scotland

Previous awards have gone to material published in a wide range of Scottish media, including BBC Scotland, STV, Sunday Mail, Sunday Herald, Herald, Scotsman, The Big Issue, Evening Times and Evening News.

How to Enter

Journalists can nominate their own work or the work of a colleague or be nominated by members of the public.
Entries must have been published or broadcast between 1 May 2007 and 30 April 2008.
Entries can be drawn from news coverage, features or opinion pieces.
Submissions for the award are open to journalists working in Scotland, in print, broadcast or web-based media.
Journalists working for a named employer, working freelance or contributing voluntarily to a media outlet can enter.
Please send broadcast submissions in DVD or CD format if at all possible.
Photography should be sent as appeared in publication and print if possible.
Nominations can be submitted by email to jbergen@oxfam.org.uk or by post to Jason Bergen, Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards, Oxfam Scotland, 207 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HZ.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 9th May 2008
The Judging Panel will include exiled journalists and people seeking asylum in Scotland.
The judges' decision is final.
The judges will not enter into any correspondence regarding the judging of the competition.
Oxfam is not able to return any submitted entries.

Nominations to include:
Forename/Surname of nominee:
Contact Address:
Contact Telephone Number:
Contact E Mail Address:
Title of Submission:
Date Submission was printed or broadcast:
Name of Publication/Broadcast/Website in which submission appeared:
Copy of submission:

Name of Nominator (if different from above):
Contact Address:
Contact Telephone:
Contact E Mail:

ENDS