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

Entries will be accepted in the following categories: print national (Scotland); print local; broadcast media; photography; and, digital/online media. The deadline for submissions is 5pm Friday May 15, 2009

Entries should demonstrate a positive contribution to and a wider understanding of the asylum debate. They will be considered in terms of accuracy, originality and impact and the story must have a strong Scottish connection.

The awards will be presented at a special event on the evening of Friday June 19 2009 at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow as one of the highlights of Refugee Week Scotland.

How to Enter

• You can enter your own work or the work of a colleague


• Members of the public can also nominate the work of a journalist


• Entries must have been published or broadcast between May 1 2008 and April 30 2009


• Submissions for the award are open to journalists working freelance or on staff in Scotland, in print, broadcast or web-based media


• Print submissions should be made by post or by email in pdf format. Pictures should be on CD. Please send broadcast submissions in DVD or CD format. For online submissions, please email a link to the piece


• The deadline for submissions is 5pm Friday May 15, 2009


• 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

You can submit your entry by post or email to Jason Bergen at:
E Mail: jbergen@oxfam.org.uk
Post: Oxfam
207 Bath Street
Glasgow, G2 4HZ

Please mark all entries as 'Entry to Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards' and enclose the following information:

If you are entering your own material:
Your name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email:
Category you are entering:
Title of submission:
Date submission was published or broadcast:
Name of publication/broadcast/website in which submission featured:

If you are nominating someone else's material:
Your name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email:

Journalist's name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email:
Category:
Title of submission:
Date submission was published or broadcast:
Name of publication/broadcast/website in which submission featured:

Any entry that does not include the above information will be deemed to be void.

What happens next?

The entries will be considered by a panel of judges, including people seeking asylum, exiled journalists and other media professionals. A shortlist will be drawn up and those who feature will be notified by Monday June 8, 2009.

Please note, all entrants (not just those shortlisted) will be invited to the Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards ceremony.

Other Information
The Refugee Week Scottish Media Awards is organised by the Asylum Positive Images Network (APIN), facilitated by Oxfam Scotland. APIN comprises exiled journalists, refugee community organisations, refugee support organisations, NGOs, the NUJ, universities and public sector agencies.

The awards are part of Refugee Week Scotland 2009, which runs June 15-21. www.refugeeweek.org.uk

Further information about the awards and APIN can be obtained by contacting Jason Bergen at: Oxfam, 207 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4HZ, telephone 0141 285 8884 or email jbergen@oxfam.org.uk