The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has launched a new award category for its 17th Annual Competition for Journalism and Factual Productions – Media Freedom Award. With the new award, the association aims to highlight media freedom initiatives around the world.
“This Media Freedom Award is an important development in the work of the Association for International Broadcasting in this vital subject,” says Tom Wragg who represents the AIB on the consultative network to the inter-governmental Media Freedom Coalition.
“The AIB is committed to helping its members, as well as all journalists at risk, raise awareness of issues around media freedom. The AIB supports them in engaging audiences and helping them to understand the vital need for media freedom in all parts of the world. This award will celebrate the organisation that’s making a substantial mark in this area and encouraging others to add to their coverage of media freedom issues.”
The ground-breaking award will recognise the TV or radio broadcaster or digital media house that has actively covered, promoted and protected media freedom. For example, the prize could go to the organisation that has developed a special strand of programming around media freedom, or it could be awarded to a company that has stood up to attacks against it through intimidation of staff or by means of illegal “judicial dragnets”.
There is a constant and growing number of oppression of news organisations by politicians to limit their scope of coverage. This new award provides a focus on those telling stories about upholding media freedom across the world.
