Press Release and Announcement
The creation of the Independent News Collective Press Awards 2002
and an appeal for sponsorship
The Independent News Collective (INK) Press Awards are being launched this year to celebrate the outstanding quality of
work by the seventy publications in the collective which represent the best of the non-mainstream press. Judged by a
panel of media experts the awards will include the Alternative Journalist of the Year, Best Small Publication, Best
Feature/ News Story, Design Excellence, Other Media and a General Excellence Award.
The INK awards are being created to acknowledge the often unheralded and unchampioned work of editors, writers and
publishers in the alternative press. In a world where so much of the mainstream press is owned by corporate entities
that have a vested interest in quashing or disparaging voices of dissent, the alternative press is in fact the only
truly Œfree¹ press we have.
Funding is now being actively sought for this unique project. INK would welcome an approach from any company or
individual who meets our ethical criteria who would like to associated with these awards and at the same time support
the independent and alternative press in the UK.
It is estimated the awards will require sponsorship of up to £10 000 which will fund the employment of a Project
Co-ordinator and the overheads of administration and the organising and staging of a presentation ceremony. The
opportunity to sponsor a prize or prize money for each of the six individual awards will also be offered.
The company or individual who is successful in becoming the Awards sponsor shall benefit from widespread coverage of the
awards across INK titles who have a estimated readership of around two million as well as in mainstream news
coverage of the awards. ENDS
Notes for Editors.
… INK is the co-operative trade association of the alternative and radical press in the UK. High profile members include
the Ecologist, Peace News, New Internationalist and the Big Issue. … Please use this as editorial in your publication to
raise awareness of this event and to assist us in networking our need to obtain sponsors. … Ethical funds are being
sought and companies which are deemed to be outside that remit will not be accepted by INK. … If funding is obtained
then submissions from INK members for the first five categories will be sought. An invitation to all INK members to
submit their work will be sent out in October 2002. The final submission date for entries will be the end of January
2003. These entries will be judged in February 2003 by a panel of media experts who are familiar with the alternative
press and then in March 2003 an awards ceremony for the winners will be held at a central London venue. … These awards
will raise the general profile of INK and as such INK would greatly welcome any feedback on this idea and particularly
any ideas on funding and potential benefactors who would back this scheme. … For further information or offers of
assistance please contact the Awards Project Co-ordinator Stuart Ullathorne on: Tel: 020-7561 0683 Fax: 020 7281 7328
E-mail :stuart@inkadmin.fsnet.co.uk
Details of the awards -
General Excellence Award
Awarded to the publication that is the best all-round performer in INK and is a leader in the field of alternative
journalism. Criteria include; a consistently high quality of features, articles and comment within a publication with
good production values.
2) Best Small Publication
This will go to the magazine which, though not well funded or with a large circulation, shows the most journalistic or
editorial flair.
3) Alternative Journalist of the Year
This individual writing primarily in INK titles - will have demonstrated an ability to consistently write stories that
reveal underlying truths about the nature of society and possible implications on the world. Whether concentrating on
human rights, environmental or health issues this person through their impeccable research and consistent analysis will
have established themselves as an authoritative voice in his/her field.
4) Best Feature /News Story Award
This award will go to the INK publication and writer who has provided the best in-depth analysis and exposure of a
particular issue in a single feature. This investigative story, first aired in an INK publication, will be deemed to
have made a big impact and been a positive spur for change and action. It will subsequently have provoked mainstream
news coverage and had an effective influence on public opinion.
5) Design Excellence Award
For the INK publication that makes best use of design to highlight its content and message in the most effective manner.
This publication will have exhibited consistently high production values and the greatest originality and imagination in
use of print and graphics.
6) Other Media Award
The judges themselves will at their own discretion nominate candidates for this category - a catch all award for the
areas of e-zines, photo-journalism, websites, video documentary and books. It will be at the discretion of the judges on
the panel, from their extensive experience in this area to research, nominate and decide on this award and as such no
submissions will be solicited.