30 July 2010, Kyiv – The UN “International Chernobyl Research and Information Network"(ICRIN) announced a competition for media journalists for the best publication on socio-economic development of Chornobyl-affected areas.

The goal of the competition is to advance information availability on socio-economic development of Chornobyl-affected areas and to improve awareness about safety living at the radioactively-contaminated territory.  

«According to our research media is a key source of information for general public at the affected areas. It is important that Chornobyl is presented as multifaceted issue not only as tragedy but also as daily victory of ordinary people over the problems of affected areas. Towns like Korosten, Tomashgorod and many others serve today as an example of effective local governance, while communities of Lubech, Udryck, Zamglay constantly share positive experience with other communities from non-affected areas.” – says Pavlo Zamostyan, Coordinator of ICRIN project in Ukraine.

Competition is open to printed and electronic media and will be held according to three categories:

• Radio
• Printed and online media
• TV-materials

Topics for media materials:

-                Success Stories: examples of social and economic development communities projects (eg. Tomashgorod, Udrytsk), enterprise (eg Shampilz) at Polissia;

-                The socio-economic development of the city Korosten (Korosten - the largest city, with the status of radioactively contaminated, which at the same time is leading in socio-economic development of Zhytomyr region);

-                Communities on the way from "victims" to "recovery" (the role of community in social and economic development process)

-                Problems of young people in remote villages at Polissia: how to be successful (eg ICT centres with the access to Internet in remote villages as a developmental opportunities: Tseptsevychi, Tomashhorod in Rivne region and Ripky - Chernihiv region;  Youth Centre in Lyubech or in other settlements)

-                Personalities: the role of local leaders in regional development

-                Chornobyl: Myths and Reality. Problems of information provision: what people know and what do they fear. How does relate this knowledge to scientific data?

-                Child-friendly city: the participation of children in local governance and satisfying children’s needs in the city. For example in Korosten, Sarny, Berezno, Ripky – in the process of creation; (Shostka, Trostyanets, Lebedyn - existing models-examples.)

-                Responsible fatherhood - the role of parents in ensuring healthy child development. For example: the role of father in the upbringing of the child (father-school), breastfeeding, emotional relationship of parents and children.

-                Youth and health issues (eg reproductive health, youth, prevention of HIV and STDs (sexually transmitted disease by) for example, clinics, youth-friendly: clinics created in Rivne, Korosten - as the current model, an example is in Chernigiv ).

The contest will take place in two steps. Step 1 - selection of materials concepts;
Step 2 - implementation of concepts.

To participate in the contest

Submit scanned Application form that includes the concept of the proposed material (up to 2 pages) on one of the suggested topics (see Topics for media materials), printed on the letterhead of the appropriate media with the signature of the editor and journalist by 10 September 2010 with the Subject -  Media Contest - to:
1) mailing address: st. Aistova, 3, office 65, Kyiv - 01021 Ukraine

2) or e-mail natalia.nason@undp.org.ua

For more information, please contact Dzvinka Kachur, tel.: / 044 / 280 32 84, 280 62 88, Email: dzvinka.kachur@undp.org.ua

Additional Information:

ABOUT UN “International Chernobyl Research and Information Network”

UN International Chernobyl Research and Information Network (ICRIN) funded by the UN Human Security Trust Fund and implemented in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, began in 2009 and will last three years. The project is s a joint effort by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Activities planned under the ICRIN project include publication of hands-on information materials; training for a range of influential local figures, including teachers, medical professionals, community leaders, and the media outlets; and the creation of Internet centres in rural areas to provide local communities with tools to find the information they need.