Brussels, 22/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 17 October 2008, EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering awarded the first European Parliament Prize for Journalism to journalists who contributed significantly to the better understanding of major European issues. They were awarded in four categories: written press, internet, television and radio. Kirsten Wörnle (GEOWissen, Germany) and Wolfgang Böhm (Die Presse, Austria) received the written press prize, Pete Pakarinen (Verkkouutiset, Finland) in the internet category, Shirin Wheeler (BBC, United Kingdom) and Lars Feldballe Petersen (TV2, Denmark) in the TV category and Mircea Radu Lipovan and Andreea Manzat (Radio Iaºi, Romania) for radio. During the awards ceremony, Mr Pöttering highlighted the need for journalists to “cast a critical eye” on the European Union and the fact that for the European Parliament, “the freedom of the press, pluralism of the media and independent reporting were of the highest importance”. Prize-winners received €5,000 (divided into two for the “written press, “television” and “radio” categories which awarded to two prize-winners in each of these categories. (I.L./trans/rh)