( Added: November 2, 2009 )  - The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is organising a competition for journalists with a thematic focus on climate change in the Himalayas. The aim is to capture published media reports and to encourage journalists to write on mountain, and especially Himalayan, issues. Articles and reports on a topic related to climate change and/or its impacts in the extended Hindu Kush-Himalayan region and first published in a printed or online publication between 01 August and 07 December 2009 (the start of ‘COP 15’ in Copenhagen) are eligible for submission.

The general theme of the competition is ‘Climate Change in the Himalayas‘. The newspapers, magazines or journals (in print format or online) in which the article appears will be categorised as follows:

International publications: newspapers, magazines, journals published in a country other than Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan

Regional publications: newspapers, magazines and journals published in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan- In either case, the publication itself may be aimed at a sub-national, national, or multinational audience.

Awards

Best report in a publication in the ‘International’ category (USD 1000); Runner-up (USD 500)

Best report in a publication in the ‘Regional’ category (USD 1000); Runner-up (USD 500)

Outstanding Regional Young Journalist (USD 1000)

This entry must be from a journalist living and working in a Himalayan country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan). Age limit for this category is 29 years at the time of publication.

Each contestant may submit up to 4 entries.

Closing date for submission is 15 December 2009 (the article must have been published on or before 07 December 2009).

Website: http://www.icimod.org/?page=607