The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) announces a radio contest for stories related to youth issues in Armenia. The objective of the contest is to help empower young people living outside the capital city Yerevan, encouraging democratic accountability as well as sensitive and informed reporting on key issues facing youth in Armenia. The contest is part of the Building Bridges Building Capacity in the South Caucasus, funded by the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. The project focuses on improving the capacity of reporters in towns and rural areas where the media is especially vulnerable and undeveloped. Journalists representing Armenian radio stations as well as freelance radio reporters are eligible to submit their works for the contest. Radio materials must have been broadcast within the period of January 1- December 20, 2011 and cover issues related to health, unemployment, education, peace projects or initiatives, migration and other social and economic topics of concern to young people living in the more remote areas of Armenia. Radio stories should be no more than four minutes in length. The deadline for submission of materials is 5 pm on December 21, 2011. The winning three authors selected by the panel of judges to the Voice of Youth Radio contest will receive cash prizes: 1st place – 55,000 Armenian Drams 2nd place – 45,000 Armenian Drams 3rd place – 35,000 Armenian Drams Please email the completed application form together with radio recording to iwprarmenia@gmail.com or bring them to the office of Institute for War and Peace Reporting at 39 Koghbatsi str, Yerevan, Armenia. The results of the competition will be announced on 26 December 2011, during the Voice of Youth radio which be broadcast by Radio Van. Short-listed reports will also be aired and discussed during this radio show.

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