On 14 February 2017 the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia and the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) awarded the 2016 winners of the EU Prize for Journalism.
The EU Prize for Journalism, which was launched in 2012 by the EU Delegation, is the first of its kind in Georgia, which recognises works that have contributed to promoting a better understanding of the values of the European Union and reflect high standards of journalistic ethics and professionalism.
In its bid to promote ethical, fair and prejudice-free conflict reporting, EUMM, for the fourth consecutive year, awarded the EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism. This year’s winner is Gvantsa Doluashvili with her piece titled “Continuous connection” published by JAM News. Ms. Doluashvili will be given an exciting opportunity to participate in a one-month fellowship at the headquarters of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in London.
“EUMM, together with our partner the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, is awarding the Special Prize for Peace Journalism which acknowledges the most balanced and unbiased article on the subject of conflicts. The winning journalist will be given an opportunity to take up a month long fellowship at the headquarters of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in London.
Through this award, EUMM wants to encourage reporting that brings separated communities together and shows the privilege of peace. Additionally, we also want to single out the kind of reporting that breaks from a simplistic, bipolar interpretation of events, and shores up the divide between the communities rather than drawing them further apart. “-Head of EUMM Kestutis Jankauskas told the audience in his opening remarks.
“This award means a lot to me and it encourages me to continue my work with even greater vigour” – Ms. Doluashvili told the Head of EUMM as he congratulated her on the achievement. She also added that the award is a very pleasant surprise since it was totally unexpected.
For the first time, two entries were awarded “Honourable Mentions”:
Tamara Mearakishvili - “How they removed the traces of the war in Tskhinvali” (Read here)
and Nino Toloraia – “Sergei Shamba: We are quite patient to be able to wait” (Read here)
For more information about the EU Journalism Prize visit this link
Head of Mission Kestutis Jankauskas is addressing the audience
Gvantsa Doluashvili accepts EUMM Special Prize for Peace Journalism from EUMM Head Kestutis Jankauskas
Acceptance speech
Tamara Mearakishvili from Netgazeti was awarded with
“Honourable Mentions”
(From left to right) Beka Bajelidze
Caucasus Regional Director at IWPR
, a host of the ceremony, Gvantsa Doluashvili - EU Special Prize winner, Nino Toloraia and Tamara Mearakishvili - both awarded with
“Honourable Mentions” certificates, Kestutis Jankauskas, EUMM Head and John Durnin, EUMM Spokesperson
Delighted winners posing for a group photo
