London and Gland, Switzerland, 6 September 2006(Reuters/IUCN) – With just 10 days to the deadline of 15 September, journalists and editors are invited to submit entries for this year’s Reuters–IUCN Media Awards for Excellence in Environmental Reporting, open to print and online journalists worldwide.

The Global Winner of the Awards, selected from six regional winners representing Asia, English-speaking Africa and Middle East, French-speaking Africa, Europe, Spanish-speaking Latin America, and North America and Oceania, will receive a cash prize of US$5’000. All six regional winners will attend the Global Awards Ceremony towards the end of 2006.

Cash prize of US$ 5,000 for global winner

The Awards, presented jointly by Reuters Foundation and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) since 1998, seek to recognise excellence in professional reporting on environmental and sustainable development issues; and foster a dialogue between journalists and experts to encourage informative reporting based on sound scientific data. They are co-funded by Reuters Foundation, IUCN and COM+ Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development.

Entries can be submitted either directly by authors or be nominated. Nominations may be made by media publishers, editors, TV producers, IUCN staff, IUCN members, IUCN commissions, and Reuters representatives.

The jury for the Reuters-IUCN Environmental Media Awards is comprised of the global master jury who choose the global winner from the six regional winners, and the regional juries who select the best entry for their region.

All submissions must have been published between 01 December 2004 and 10 September 2006 .

Candidates may submit one article only, accompanied by an entry form, to IUCN:

by e-mail: media.awardsiucn.org
or by fax : +41 (22) 999-0020
or by post: Reuters IUCN Media Awards, Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland , Switzerland

Entries written in a language other than English, French or Spanish must be accompanied by a translation.

The deadline for entries is 15 September 2006 .

For more information:

• Visit the website: www.iucn.org/reuters or www.foundation.reuters.com
  
  
• Contact Carolin Wahnbaeck, Global Media Relations Officer, The World Conservation Union (IUCN),
  Tel: +41 22 999 0127, e-mail: carolin.wahnbaeckiucn.org, www.iucn.org
  
  
• Contact Shan Kelly, Reuters Foundation, Tel: +44 (0)207 542 7010, Fax: +44 (0)207 542 6848,
  e-mail: Shan.Kellyreuters.com, www.foundation.reuters.com

About Reuters Foundation

Reuters Foundation was created by Trust Deed in 1982 to support media in developing countries and to share Reuters fact-based reporting skills. It is a UK-registered charity (number 1082139) and is governed by Trustees appointed in accordance with the articles of association. It is also a company limited by guarantee (number 4047905).

To date more than 4,200 journalists from 172 countries have benefited from fully sponsored training provided by the Foundation on international media, business journalism, environmental and health issues, television coverage, conflict reporting and crisis-response.

More information can be found at www.foundation.reuters.com

About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)

Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 81 States, 120 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union ’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland , Switzerland .

More information can be found at www.iucn.org