International Street Paper Awards 2009

On Thursday 14^th of May, the second annual International Street Paper Awards took place in the Logen Theatre in the beautiful city of Bergen, Norway. The awards were organised by INSP, in collaboration with Megafon, the local street paper of Bergen. The awards were the highlight of the INSP's 14^th Annual Conference, and a key part of the organisation's 15^th anniversary celebrations, which are taking place throughout 2009.

INSP's annual awards ceremony, launched in 2008, is a celebration of the quality and impact of street papers as independent media, and it gives global recognition to the contributors, for their high quality and evocative journalism, photography and design. 174 entries were submitted in the 7 awards categories. Entries came from a total of 50 different street papers, across 24 countries, covering a diverse range of perspectives on social and economic justice.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Petter Lavern, a well know DJ on Bergen's Radio 1, and co-hosted by Quiz Master Tom James Leaver Gunner. The event was sponsored by Reuters, ALF AS and Bergen City Council.

The prestigious international judging panel of some of media's big hitters supported the awards. They were Martin Wanjala Ocholi, Media Consultant, Kenya; Sanjay Suri, Editor for Inter Press Service, Europe-Mediterranean (IPS); Silja J.A. Talvi, award-winning investigative journalist and author, USA; Oddleiv Apneseth, Award winning photographer, Norway.  The awards were chaired by David Schlesinger, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters News and INSP's Honorary President.


Download the 2009 programme to see the full list of shortlisted entries. Click here for a picture gallery.

The 2009 winners:

• Best Feature Story: Writing for social impact

‘We Are Their Slaves' - Gregory Flannery (Streetvibes, USA)

This feature highlights an appalling case of the mistreatment of immigrant Puerto Rican workers in Cincinnati. Uncovering a shocking scheme of calculated exploitation and severe social control, the article resulted in a groundswell of outrage and a federal investigation of the company in question.

 

• Best Campaign Cover: Making a statement on the street

‘The Education Issue' - Natasha Reeve Tucker, Designer (The Big Issue Zambia)

In Zambia, education is a privilege, not a right, and many schools are in deplorable condition. This cover features the emotive image of a young child scratching sums on a crumbling wall. It calls for policymakers to give marginalised children an opportunity to learn.

 

• Best Interview: A spotlight on change-makers

‘The Marketing Man of Gawad Kalinga' - Jimbo Gulle (The Jeepney Magazine, Philippines)

Tony Meloto is recognised worldwide for his dedication to homelessness in the Philippines. In this interview, he is asked about his phenomenal success with housing initiative Gawad Kalinga and of our limited conceptions of ‘the poor' as an obstacle to lasting change.

 

• Best Photograph - Evoking deeper perspectives on poverty and injustice

‘Functionality' - Ahmad Kavousian (Megaphone, Canada)

A beautifully shot image of a hammock rigged up on beach debris - as Vancouver's lack of affordable housing pushes more and more people onto the streets, the photo expresses the lengths to which some are driven just to find a place to sleep.

 

• Best Design - Affecting change through visual content

‘Commemorative 6^th Anniversary Edition' - Fabio Kato (OCAS, Brazil)

A bold and distinctive design which beautifully highlights the magazine's two pillars: culture and social awareness. Using two contrasting covers, the magazine effectively moves between heavy issues and a sense of hope.

 

• Best Vendor Essay - A fresh perspective from the street

‘Capital Gains' - Andy C. (The Big issue, UK)

In wonderfully descriptive first-person prose, Andy C meditates on paths travelled. As Big Ben strikes four in the morning, he considers: if only he'd taken a different path, where would he be now? But instead of focusing on his losses and an explanation for his struggles, he contemplates his sleepless solitude and finds beauty in the quiet clockwork of London in the early morning.

 

• Special Award for External Press: Advocating for the needs and rights of homeless people

‘Falling Through the Cracks' - Sean Condon (TheTyee.ca, Canada)

Paul ‘Duncan' Geisbrecht, a Vancouver homeless man, suffered from schizophrenia and crack cocaine addiction. When he died last year, he was just one week away from entering supportive housing. Tracing Paul's life story, this piece illustrates how faults in Canada's social system can have tragic consequences for society's most vulnerable.

 

• 2008 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the International Street Paper Movement

BISS, Germany

Established in 1993, BISS is a founding member of INSP and the oldest street paper in Germany. Priding itself on principles of professionalism, financial transparency and holistic social support, BISS has served as a bold and influential role-model for street papers across the world. Through pioneering social enterprise and employment initiatives, BISS consistently challenges fellow INSP members to look beyond accepted limitations and find new ways to do more for their vendors, and to do it better. A ‘15th Anniversary Member' and long-time contributor to INSP and struggling fellow street papers, BISS has demonstrated noteworthy generosity and a genuine desire to share its success with others. INSP is delighted for this opportunity to recognise BISS for these admirable contributions.

 

A special edition of the INSP's independent news service - the Street News Service (SNS) - was published on Tuesday 19^th May, dedicated to the awards finalists.  Written submissions are available both in their original language and with full English translations.  Visual submissions, including photographs and campaign covers are also viewable. Visit: www.streetnewsservice.org


For more information about individual Awards recipients, contact:

• Gregory Flannery, Editor, Streetvibes, info@cincihomeless.org, Telephone: +1 513 421 7803
• Samba Yonga, Editor, The Big Issue Zambia, editor@thebigissuezambia.org, Telephone: +260 211 262303
• William Shaw, Director, The Jeepney Magazine, bill@thejeepney.com, Telephone: +63 26 401 1933
• Sean Condon, Editor, Megaphone, sean@megaphonemagazine.com, Telephone: +1 778 835 4440
• Lara McCullagh, Business Development & Communications Manager, The Big Issue, lara.mccullagh@bigissue.com, Telephone: +44 20 7526 3388
• Luciano Rocco, Editor, ocas@ocas.org.br, OCAS, Telephone: +55 11 3208 6169
• David Beers, Editor-in-Chief, TheTyee.ca, editor@thetyee.ca, Telephone: +1 604 689 7489
• Hildegard Denninger, Director, BISS, info@biss-magazin.de, Telephone: +49 89 332 033

 

The 2009 judging panel:

• David Schlesinger - Editor-in-Chief of Reuters & INSP Honorary President
• Sanjay Suri - Editor for Inter Press Service, Europe-Mediterranean
• Martin Wanjala Ocholi - Media Consultant, Kenya
• Silja Talvi - Author & Senior Editor of In These Times Magazine
• Oddleiv Apneseth - Award winning Norwegian photographer

Official Awards Ambassador:

• Mr Federico Mayor - President, Foundation for a Culture of Peace and former Director-General of UNESCO