Brussels, 15/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - At a ceremony in Brussels on 15 May, Commissioner Vladimir Spidla presented the awards in this year's “For Diversity, Against Discrimination” competition for EU journalists. The first prize was awarded to two Dutch journalists, Sander Donkers and Harm Ede Botke, who work for the magazine Vrij Nederland, for their article on the ethnic and racial discrimination in the jobs market that two young Muslims had to face. The second prize went to two journalists, Edwin Bendyk and Jacek Zakowski, from the Polish magazine Polityka, for their report on discrimination faced by homosexuals in Poland. And third prize was won by Irish journalist Fiona Ness of the Sunday Business Post for her article highlighting discrimination against people with disabilities in employment. The award in the photo category went to Joost van den Broeck, also of the Vrij Nederland, for his photo “Multicultural composition of employees in Dutch companies”. “83% of companies that have introduced a policy of diversity in the work place have derived benefits from the social point of view,” said Mr Spidla during the ceremony. “It is essential to launch a public debate on diversity and on the fight against discrimination. It takes courage and dedication to bring to light stories that are not always guaranteed to make the headlines,” he added.
In 2005, the Commission (DG Employment) launched its second journalist award for journalists who, through the quality of their writing and the rigour of their research, brought to public attention the need to oppose discrimination of all kinds. In a departure from the first competition of 2004, the 2005 European competition recognised the work of photographers. The winning entries were selected from over 600 articles and photos from all Member States, an increase of 30% on the previous year. The prizewinners will receive grants of 1000 to 3000 euro to carry out research in the EU country of their choice. The 2006 European competition was launched on 27 April. Journalists are invited to submit their article by 31 December 2006 to http://www.stop-discrimination.info .