African journalists are invited to submit their nominations for the Media Innovation Awards, presented by the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), in partnership with the Open Society Foundation of South Africa (OSF-SA) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-SA). The awards showcase and reward innovative strategies, tools and other business solutions for the grassroots or community publishing sector in the following six categories: Innovative Editorial / Content Systems; Innovative Management / Business Systems; Innovative Circulation / Distribution Systems; Innovative Revenue Generation Initiatives; Innovative Advertising / Marketing Strategies; Innovative Audience / Market Research.
Nominations can include everything from software or other tools designed to make grassroots publishing more competitive, to creative strategies or production techniques for overcoming common problems, or even new products that cut costs and give grassroots publishers a competitive edge. All independent publishers are eligible including small commercial, community, NGO or advocacy newspapers, magazines, newsletters and journals.
Prize packages are valued at roughly R20,000 each (US$3,100), and include free technical training, software products, consultants to help improve profitability/efficiency at winning publications, and free resources including media textbooks/manuals.
For additional information, contact Justin Arenstein at justin@africanpress.com or Zanele Sibanda at zaneles@printmedia.org.za
Deadline: 31 August, 2005
