“Decentralization – the path to better results and efficiency” starts competition for regional media that will last until March 20th, 2017
Today, January 18, journalist competition for regional media “Decentralization – the path to better results and efficiency” has started. The competition aims to highlight new opportunities for the community, achievements and problems of decentralization reforms. The competition is held by Ukraine Crisis Media Center under the program DOBRE supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This was stated by Tetiana Nychyporenko, head of decentralization communication of Ukraine Crisis Media Center, at a briefing held at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “Our task is to form a constructive discourse on decentralization at the regional level so that people who live in regions would be more aware of reforms progress, the problems related to it, and took part in solving them,” she said.
To participate in the competition, the material is to be published first in the regional media not earlier than January 18, 2017. Materials published in the regional media of Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kirovograd, Mykolayiv and Ternopil regions will be accepted. “Since the program DOBRE has been launched in these seven regions, we are currently implementing this pilot project in these particular areas. If the competition shows positive results, we may extend the geography,” explained Tetiana Nychyporenko.
The competition materials will be accepted in three categories: an article in print media or an online publication, video or radio material. “Within each category, there are three prizes: 15,000, 10,000 and 7,000 UAH. There may also be some encouragement prizes, “added Ms Nychyporenko. Works can be submitted until March 20, 2017. Awards ceremony will be held in April 2017 at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The competition materials can cover both general and specific aspects of decentralization: united communities, finance, medicine, education, administration services, culture, ecology, the role of youth in decentralization, etc. Requirements for competitive materials are available on the website. The jury consists of journalists and experts on decentralization. “We have agreed that journalists Anastasia Rinhis, Andriy Kulykov, Natalia Sokolenko will be in the jury. Additionally, the jury can include experts and representatives of united communities,” noted Ms Nychyporenko.