European Union Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press 2024: (Deadline 1 April, 2024)

We remember today the driving force behind the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press. A courageous woman who once knocked on the European Union’s door to help establish what would become one of the most prestigious journalism prizes in the region.

As we launch the 19th edition of the Samir Kassir Award, let us pay tribute to Gisele Khoury and Samir Kassir, and remember what they stood for.

Gisele and Samir’s fight for freedom of expression resonates across the Middle East today, as journalists risk their lives to cover the bloody conflicts around us.

It is a bleak picture for journalism in the region. The number of journalists and media workers killed on the job is at a record high. Violence continues to be exercised on a daily basis to silence them. In many countries, they are censored or prosecuted for exposing corruption, human rights violations and war atrocities.

More than ever, journalists need protection.

More than ever, journalists need to exercise their right to express, publish and share information and opinion.

The European Union is committed to defending and promoting the freedom of the press. To quote the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, it is “a universal mission that knows no borders.”

The Samir Kassir Award is one of many expressions of our commitment to press freedom. Over the years, it has become a reference for thousands of journalists in the region who investigate or speak out on democracy, human rights, good governance and civic engagement. The Award has also given a voice to brave women journalists, who face even more intimidation and harassment than their male colleagues do.

I encourage every journalist in the eighteen countries covered by the Samir Kassir Award to apply for this year’s edition, and I look forward to discovering the work of the finalists.

We need to hear from you, today more than ever.

Sandra De Waele

Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon

About European Commission

We are the European Commission’s department for International Partnerships under the leadership of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen. Our role is to: work together with partner countries across the world to achieve sustainable development design the EU’s international partnership and development policy We are responsible for formulating the EU’s international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate goal to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development, and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world. EU Internationa…

European Union Samir Kassir Award

Aim and Benefits of European Union Samir Kassir Award

The winner in each of the three categories will be awarded €10,000.

European Union Samir Kassir Award Courses

• Journalism

Requirements for European Union Samir Kassir Award Qualification

Candidates must submit an opinion article, an investigative article, or an audiovisual news report centered around one or more of the following topics:

• Rule of law,
• Human rights,
• Good governance,
• Fight against corruption,
• Freedom of expression,
• Democratic development, or
• Citizen participation.

The contest is open to journalists nationals of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq,  Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The submitted article must have been published in a print or online media outlet in one of the countries listed above or in one of the European Union Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden).

The audiovisual news report must have been aired on a local or satellite television network or released on an online television network in one of the countries listed above or in one of the European Union Member States.

The article must not exceed 25,000 characters and must have been published between March 16, 2023, and March 15, 2024.

The report must not exceed seven minutes and must have been released between March 16, 2023, and March 15, 2024.

Interview date, Process and Venue for European Union Samir Kassir Award

The selection will be done by a jury composed of journalists and media professionals coming from the EU Member States and the participating countries listed above.

Members of the jury, the staff of the European Union, and staff and members of the Samir Kassir Foundation are excluded from the contest.

Application Deadline

1 April, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to European Commission on to applyEach candidate is to register through the below link:

Login | Register

To complete the online registration, make sure you provide:

1. Your personal information, which will be treated according to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation rules.
2. The entire published article in its original form as well as a copy translated into English (the use of Google Translate or any other automatic translation tool is strictly forbidden) or the link to the original audiovisual news report in its original form with English subtitles and/or an English translation or description of the report.
3. A proof of publication or broadcast (link to the original copy or broadcast, or photocopy of the published article, or a letter proving the authenticity of the publication/broadcast, signed by the person in charge of the media outlet or their representative).
4. A resume.

Three awards will be granted for:

• Best opinion article
• Best investigative article
• Best audiovisual news report

Completed applications with all submission materials must be sent by April 1, 2024 at the latest.
Incomplete files will not be accepted.

For more details visit: OFFICIAL LINK.