Free State Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) invites entries for the GCIS Community Media Awards 2008. The awards honour and give recognition to the men and women who diligently serve the communities of the Free State by providing them with information that enriches their lives.

The Free State has about 20 community newspapers and nine community radio stations. Community media provides a platform the communities to air their views. Government uses community media to inform the public about its programme of action which is aimed at improving the lives of communities. At the same time it checks whether government is delivering on its mandate as outlined and thus holds government accountable.

The aim of these awards is to raise the standard of local journalism and to encourage objective and ethical reporting within the community media.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION:

• The entries should have been published in the case of print media / broadcast in the case of electronic media between January 2008 and 30 August 2008
• All works entered should be in one of the eleven official languages
• Entries that do not meet the requirements will be disqualified]
• Incomplete applications will also be disqualified
• The decision of the Adjudication Panel is final  and no correspondence will be entered into
  

Award Categories

The GCIS Community Media Awards will comprise of the following categories:

• Government and general news
• Feature
• Sports news
• Photojournalism: published pictures in newspapers or newsletters with or without written texts
• Overall winner, will be selected among the best in each category
• Special award to a community media (newspaper or radio station) that has contributed to the development of the community. The winner in this category is selected by the judges out of all the community media houses in the Free State.
  

Entries forms are available from the GCIS Regional Office in Bloemfontein. These should be accompanied by a shoulder length photo of the journalist. In the case of a newspaper entry a cutting of the original article or certified copy of the original must be submitted. In the case of a radio entry the audio material must be put on CD (as it went out on air) together with a script of the story. Photo entries should be accompanied by a hard copy of the photograph as well as a cutting of the publication where the photograph was published and the date thereof. Entries must be accompanied by a motivation letter from the entrant giving the background of the story. Each entrant may enter up to three entries per category and in as many categories as they like.

Submissions:

• Entrants assume full responsibility in respect of the entry and quality of the support material
• The Adjudication Panel takes no liability any for loss or damage to material submitted
• Any submitted material cannot be claimed back after the competition
• All entries must be submitted on the entry form provided
  

Entry forms and all accompanying material should be delivered or posted to:

Physical address
Bloem Plaza next to Cash Crusaders
East Burger Street
Bloemfontein

Postal address
Government Communication and Information System
P.O Box 995
Bloemfontein
9300

For more information and the entry form, please contact Palesa Matshane on 051 448 4504 or 076 684 9016