Competition: "Memory and Human Rights"

Journalism Students Competition: "Memory and Human Rights"
Application Deadline: April 4 - May 12, 2024

The Institute for Democracy, Media, and Culture (IDMC), in collaboration with the Department of Journalism and Communication at the Faculty of History and Philology (UT), announces the "Memory and Human Rights" competition, marking the 40th anniversary of the Qafë-Bar revolt and the 45th anniversary of the execution of journalists Fadil Kokomani and Vangjel Lezho.

Supported by the Swiss Embassy in Albania, this competition provides young journalists a platform to delve into critical analysis, personal stories, and the role of media in shaping public perception and memory. Participation offers students an opportunity to develop and showcase their multimedia and various media genre skills, contributing to awareness and fostering dialogue about the past and future.

Suggested topics for participants include:

• Persecution histories
• The ban on religious beliefs and the destruction of places of worship
• Memorializing sites of suffering (prisons, internment camps)
• Trials of the nomenclature
• Media and collective memory
• Censorship and information control in media under totalitarian regimes
• Portrayal of communist leaders in media propaganda
• Art in service of communist propaganda
• Propaganda in today's media
• Social media and the manipulation of collective memory

The competition is open to all Bachelor and Master students of the Department of Journalism and Communication at the Faculty of History and Philology.

Participation Criteria

• Each competitor can present only one individual work.
• Submissions must relate to the competition's overall theme.
• Only original works not presented in similar activities are accepted.
• Plagiarism will automatically result in disqualification.

Choose one of the media formats and genres for your submission:

1. Features or Reportage: Students may explore personal stories of individuals who lived through the dictatorship, the impact of political changes on communities, or the role of journalism during the transition. This can include interviews, historical sources, etc. Written features/reportage should not exceed 2,500 words.
2. Documentary Shorts: Video documentaries offer a dynamic way to present historical narratives, combining interviews, archival footage, and narration to explore themes of memory and human rights. Documentaries must not exceed 15 minutes.
3. Photo Essays: This visual format combines photography with journalism to tell the past's story and its impact on current society. Students may use historical photos or create contemporary ones reflecting the ongoing impact of communism and democratic transition.
4. Podcasts: Audio (visual) stories where you can delve into the topic through interviews, personal testimonies, etc. This format allows for a mix of historical information, personal narratives, and commentary or analysis.
5. Investigative Articles: In-depth works uncovering previously unreported or overlooked aspects before and after 1990. This can include archival documents, interviews, etc.
6. Multimedia Works: A combination of text, video, audio, and interactive elements to tell personal stories or events before and during the transition.
7. Social Media Awareness Campaigns: Short videos, infographics, and interactive posts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok to create informative and engaging content that raises awareness about the historical period and its relevance today.
   

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Research and Accuracy: The level of in-depth research, accuracy in reporting historical facts using reliable sources, and fact verification.
• Originality and Creativity: The most original approach to the topic, including subject choice, perspective, or narrative style in terms of conceptualization and design.
• Depth of Analysis: The work's ability not only to present facts but also to offer in-depth analysis and interpretation of the communist era and its legacy. This includes linking historical events to contemporary themes, exploring human rights implications, etc.
• Narrative and Storytelling: For all formats, the quality of storytelling is essential. This includes narrative structure, message clarity, and the ability to engage and retain audience interest.
• Technical Quality: Depending on the format, the work's technical execution must be high. For written works, this includes clarity of writing, grammar, and organization. For multimedia, it includes production quality such as sound, lighting, editing, and visual aesthetics.
• Ethical Respect: The work must adhere to ethical principles, respecting the dignity and rights of mentioned or depicted individuals, avoiding sensationalism, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality where needed.
• Impact and Relevance: The level at which the work contributes to a broader understanding of the topic and stimulates thought, discussion, or action. This criterion assesses the potential impact of the work on public awareness, education, and the ongoing discourse on human rights and democracy.
• Innovative Use of Medium: For non-traditional formats (like digital media, social media campaigns, or multimedia works), the innovative and effective use of the chosen medium to convey the message. This includes interactivity, user engagement, and the creative integration of various content types (text, audio, video, etc.).

Announcement of Winners

Based on the criteria mentioned above, the jury, composed of professional journalists and media experts, will first select a shortlist of the 20 best works, from which six winning works will be chosen to receive symbolic awards:

• First Prize - 40,000 lekë
• Two Second Prizes - 30,000 lekë
• Three Third Prizes - 10,000 lekë

The best works will be published in various media, as well as on the official website of the IDMC and the Memory Observatory.

Following the award ceremony, finalists will have the opportunity to participate in a study visit to one of the memory sites in Albania, on May 31, 2024.

How to Apply?

You can submit your works until May 12, 2024, 23:59, to the email address: konkursi@idmc.al, or if they are larger than 5 MB, use WeTransfer.

All announcements regarding the competition will be published on the official website of the IDMC (www.idmc.al) and the Department of Journalism and the Faculty of History and Philology, as well as on social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Participants can request further information at any time by contacting the IDMC's social networks or the official email address of the competition konkursi@idmc.al

Organisers