SAJA 2010 Journalism Awards

The South Asian Journalists Association and SAJA Group Inc. invite individual journalists and news organizations in North America to submit entries to this year's contest of the South Asian Journalists Association. The SAJA Journalism Awards recognize excellence in coverage of South Asia, as well as outstanding reporting by South Asian journalists in the U.S. and Canada.

The 2010 Awards, which are open to media companies and freelancers headquartered in the U.S. and Canada, consist of 10 categories.

Submissions can include print articles, editorials, photographs and new media pieces published, and broadcasts aired by Dec. 31, 2009.

Q. Which countries are considered to be part of South Asia?

A. South Asia is the all-encompassing term for the Indian Subcontinent. South Asia is distinct from East and Southeast Asia. The seven countries of South Asia are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAJA however, will also consider submissions about Afghanistan.

A. The SAJA stylebook defines it as follows: Because of the British colonial legacy and large-scale immigration, there are substantial pockets of people of South Asian origin scattered around the world (besides South Asia, of course). In some cases--Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago--South Asians make up at least 35 percent of the population. Other countries with large South Asian communities: Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The government of India puts the size of the Diaspora at more than 20 million. There are more than 2 million South Asians in the United States. Stories about the South Asian Diaspora in these countries as well as more recent settlements will be considered.

ANNUAL CONTEST ELIGIBILITY:

Any material executed in calendar year 2009 is eligible for the 2010 contest submitted by:

• Categories 1-7: Journalists working for media outlets headquartered in the U.S. & Canada and/or freelancers based in the U.S. & Canada.
• Categories 8-10: Journalists of South Asian origin working in North America for any media outlet.

STUDENT CATEGORY ELIGIBILITY:

Any material executed in calendar year 2009 is eligible for the 2010 contestsubmitted by:

• A student of South Asian origin studying in the U.S. & Canada (students should also know about the SAJA Scholarships).
• Non-published/aired student entries must be accompanied by a professor's note stating the work was executed for a class.

Please note: The following persons are INELIGIBLE to participate in the awards contest: (a) a spouse, childor parent of any current member of the board of directors of SAJA (b) a spouse,child or parent of a member of the panel of judges for the 2009-10 contest (c)members of the board of directors of SAJA and (d) members of the panel of judges for the 2008-9 contest.

EVALUATION PROCEDURE:

A committee of judges appointed by the Board of SAJA will review the submissions and evaluate them on a number of professional subjective and objective criteria.

PRIZES:

The 2010 SAJA Journalism Awards will announce 3 finalists in each category in mid-May and the winners will be announced at the 2010 Awards Dinner. The student category has additional prize money of $500 for the winner; and $250 each for two finalists.

ENTRY FEE (entries without payment will NOT be processed):

• $15.00 (if an individual is paying, not the company)

• $50.00 (company)

NOTE: We have eliminated the entry fee for students, but will accept only 3 submissions per student.

ENTRY & PAYMENT FORMS:

ONLINE ENTRY FORM:

2010 SAJA Awards

VIA CREDIT CARD (you do NOT need a Paypal account):

Companies use this payment form: 50 USD

Individuals use this payment form: 15 USD

PLEASE RECORD  TRANSACTION NUMBER, YOU WILL NEED IT TO FILL OUT THE ENTRY FORM.