MUMBAI: News channel CNN has launched the fourth edition of the CNN Young Journalist Award (CNN YJA) in association with ITC-Welcomgroup. This year, two new categories have been added in addition to the existing CNN YJA categories - CNN Aspiring Journalist Award in collaboration with Hindustan Times and the CNN Citizen Journalist Award in partnership with CNN-IBN. Launched in 2003, the CNN Young Journalist Award offers a platform for furthering journalistic brilliance among young journalists across India and Pakistan.

CNN’s senior Intl correspondent Satinder Bindra said, “As a journalist myself, I am delighted to be associated with CNN YJA for the last three years. The award aims at instilling the values and ethics associated with journalism among the young journalists of India & Pakistan. This year, we have introduced CNN Aspiring Journalist Award and the CNN Citizen Journalist Award. With the addition of these new categories, CNN has reinforced its commitment to recognize and honour individuals involved in the process of newsgathering.”

The CNN Young Journalist Award is targetted at young journalists in India and Pakistan within the age group of 22 – 28 years, in the print/online and television categories. While CNN Aspiring Journalist Award is targeted at Indian students of journalism who have just appeared (awaiting results) or are appearing for the final examinations, CNN Citizen Journalist Award is open to citizens of India, [who are not professional journalists] and encourages them to play an active role in the process of collecting and disseminating news and information on issues that have an impact on society.

CNN–IBN editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “We are glad to support CNN in their endeavour to encourage journalism across the country through the CNN Citizen Journalist Award. News can happen anywhere, any time and at many times in an area where we may not have immediate access, it is the viewer who can provide us with an accurate picture of the actual situation. The initiative, ‘Citizen Journalism’ from CNN-IBN and IBN 7, offers a platform to involve the viewers and make him/her an active participant in the process of newsgathering, making television news truly interactive. Through this initiative, we are trying to emphasize the importance of the role a citizen plays in the newsgathering process, thereby influencing society at large.”

Entrants to the CNN Young Journalist Award, Television category must submit a feature style television news package that has been produced and aired between 1 January, 2006 and 30 September, 2006. Submission must relate to a General news story relevant to any part of India or Pakistan. For the print/online category, entries must include three copies of the original article or photocopy of the news article, written solely by the entrant and published in an Indian/ Pakistani publication or on an Indian/ Pakistani website between the period 1 January, 2006 and 30 September, 2006. The last date for receiving entries is 12 October, 2006 for entries from India and 7 October, 2006 for entries from Pakistan.

Entrants to the CNN Aspiring Journalist Award have to submit an essay in 1000 words on the topic, ‘Are sting operations justified?’ The entrants can either be nominated by the Principal/Head of Department or students can also independently apply through their own initiative but the entry has to be validated by the principal or head of the department along with an official seal of the school/ college/institute/university. In the entry form, the entrant shall indicate the category for which he/she wishes to be considered. The short-listed participants in each category will be invited to New Delhi to participate in an on-the-spot contest. The closing date for the receipt of entries is October 12, 2006.

The winners of the CNN Young Journalist Award in the Television and Print/Online Category will each be awarded the title of ‘CNN Young Journalist of the Year’; will spend a week at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta. Furthermore, they will meet with CNN International's editors and anchors, and experience first-hand the workings of CNN's editorial and programming teams. The runner up in the Television and Print/Online Category will be given the opportunity to visit and assist the CNN news bureau in New Delhi for a week.

The winners of ‘CNN Aspiring Journalist Award’ will each be awarded a trophy and a citation. The winner in the Television category will also earn an opportunity for an internship with the CNN-IBN bureau either in New Delhi or Mumbai for a month, and the winner in the Print category will earn an internship with the Hindustan Times bureau in New Delhi or Mumbai for the same period.

The best and valid entry in the CNN Citizen Journalist Award will be awarded the title ‘CNN Citizen Journalist of the Year’ along with a trophy, a citation and a Digital Camera.

Entry forms can be obtained either by writing to Turner International India Pvt. Ltd, S-2 Level, Block-F, International Trade Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi-110019 or by logging on to the CNN YJA website: http://www.cnnasiapacific.com/yja. All entry forms must be accompanied by proof of age and experience.

The past editions have been backed by a well-rounded multi-media communication campaign in print and online. This year, the CNN Young Journalist Award will be supported through on–air promos on CNN–IBN, e-mailers, print ads and below-the-line activities. The CNN Aspiring Journalist Award category aims to reach students across the country through an exhaustive student contact program. The CNN Citizen Journalist Award too will leave no stone unturned to involve its patron viewers.