AFP launches 2016 Kate Webb Prize for Asian journalists

Agence France-Presse on Friday launched the 2016 Kate Webb Prize to recognise exceptional Asian journalists doing difficult and dangerous work across the region. Photo and video journalists are strongly encouraged to apply for this year's edition as part of AFP's efforts to boost visual and multimedia reporting. The winner, who will be selected by a panel of experienced journalists, will receive 3,000 euros (approximately $3,400) in cash. The winner will be announced during the summer and will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony later in the year. The contest is open to locally hired Asian photo, video and text journalists, for work published during 2015. “We would like to encourage more visual journalists to apply this year. Photographers and video journalists are producing outstanding work in Asia and they need recognition and encouragement," said Philippe Massonnet, AFP’s regional director for the Asia-Pacific region. “There are a lot of very brave unsung heroes doing fine journalism in sometimes very tricky situations across Asia; defying physical danger, political pressure and other difficulties to tell stories that people really need to hear,” Massonnet added. Applications will be accepted until midnight in Hong Kong (1600 GMT) on Friday, June 3. Thai investigative journalist Mutita Chuachang of the non-profit online newspaper Prachatai received the 2015 prize for her fearless independent reporting on democracy, human rights and the environment. The Kate Webb Prize was first awarded in 2008 to Pakistani reporter Mushtaq Yusufzai. Other winners were multimedia journalist Patricia Evangelista from the Philippines, Indian journalist and photographer Dilnaz Boga, Indonesian journalist Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. The prize is named after Kate Webb, one of AFP’s finest correspondents, who died in 2007 at the age of 64. Webb, who was born in New Zealand, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter while covering the Vietnam War and other historic events in Asia during a career spanning four decades. Applications will be accepted via email to katewebbprize@afp.com. Applicants should submit the following: 1. A letter to the AFP Kate Webb Prize Jury explaining why you deserve the prize. 2. A CV with two professional references. 3. For reporters and photographers, at least three (3) samples of work published on different dates in 2015. They can be sent in PDF format for printed work or via links to the web versions. 3. For video journalists, at least three (3) samples of work broadcast or published online in 2015 via links to YouTube or other hosting sites. 4. The jury will accept work in English or any Asian national language, provided that there is an English translation. Photo captions must be in English. The competition excludes AFP staff, stringers and their relatives.