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How to submit to the WEVAW Awards

Submissions are closed. 

Recognise and reward journalists, writers and content creators across the UK who raise awareness of gender inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls. Submit a piece to our 10th Write to End Violence Against Women Awards.

 

How to enter

Submit via our short survey. Submissions close at midnight on Saturday 30 September 2023.

Your details will not be shared with any third party, and will only be used by us for awards-related communications.

We’re particularly interested in pieces which represent voices not often heard, for example Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse people; LGBT+ people; disabled people; and people from rural communities; and/or people from working-class/lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

 

Entry guidelines

  • Entry is free.
  • You can submit your own or another person’s piece.
  • You may also submit more than one entry per category.
  • You may enter as many categories as you wish, but you must complete a different submission for each one.
    No single submission will be accepted in more than one category. Please choose the most appropriate single category for your entry. If you are unsure which category to choose, please contact jo.zawadzka@zerotolerance.org.uk to discuss.
  • Submissions must have been published since 1 October 2022
  • Submissions must be created in the UK or primarily reaching a UK audience.
  • For News and Feature categories, the author must have received financial compensation for the piece.
  • Winners will be announced at an online ceremony in December. The shortlist will be made available ahead of the awards.

 

 

Categories

Best Piece – News

  • A “hard news” story, i.e. a piece of reporting intended to communicate the facts of the story.
  • The author must have received financial compensation for the piece.
  • The piece may be published in any local or national UK publication, online or print.

Best Piece – Feature

  • A lengthier feature piece, i.e. a piece of writing intended to provide more analysis and context than a straightforward news piece.
  • The author must have received financial compensation for the piece
  • The piece may be published in any local or national UK publication online or print.

Best Piece – Opinion and Comment

  • A piece where the author expresses their personal opinion.
  • The piece may be published in any local or national UK publication, online or print.

Best Piece – Blogs and Self Published Articles

  • The piece might include a post with the author’s own opinions, a review, or commentary on policy, research or world events.
  • The piece may be published on blogging sites or organisational blogs. Personal blogs and websites are accepted as long as they are freely available online.
  • Nominations must be for an individual blog post, not an entire blog. However multiple individual posts from the same blog can be nominated as separate entries.

Wooden Spoon

Our prize to a problematic theme that we have seen in some reporting of violence against women. Previously we have awarded the Wooden Spoon to “Nice Guys”, when the media is overly sympathetic to perpetrators of violence against women, and to “invisible women”, the media’s tendency to neglect to mention the woman’s name in cases of violence against her and instead focus the majority of coverage on the perpetrator.

We'd love to hear your suggestions on what this year's theme should be!

Broadcast: Experts' pick

This year, we will recognise good reporting via television, radio, or internet. We will be considering news broadcasts, podcasts, and documentaries that cover violence against women well. This award will be chosen by experts on violence against women. We are not accepting submissions for this award.

 

To work out which category is best suited for the piece you wish to nominate, please consult our guidance below. If you have any questions, please get in touch. Email: jo.zawadzka@zerotolerance.org.uk

 

 

 

 

What we’re looking for

The pieces will be shortlisted by our steering group and judged by a panel of industry experts.

When choosing the pieces we think deserve recognition we look for a number of qualities.

They will be judged on three criteria:

1. How well written is the piece?

  • Is this a good piece of journalism?
  • Is the quality of the writing good?
  • Does it flow well? Is language well utilised?
  • Is it enjoyable to read?

2. Does this piece challenge gender inequality and/or violence against women?

Does the piece:

  • Follow good practice guidelines when discussing violence against women and girls?
  • effectively raise awareness about gender equalityas an issue and challenge it?
  • Challenge or reinforce myths and stereotypes? e.g. implying the survivor is to blame; portraying perpetrators as beasts or fiends, or as misunderstood anti-heroes; describing violence as crimes of passion etc.
  • Use quotes from experts, facts, or figures to place the story in a wider context of VAWG?
  • Talk about the root cause of VAWG?
  • Include the voice or the impact of this violence on a victim-survivor?
  • Treat the victim-survivor of abuse or violence with respect for their experience, dignity, and safety?
  • Provide helplines at the end of the article?

For more information on how writing may challenge VAWG see our media guidelines on VAWG.

3. Does this piece have a wow factor?

  • Is it innovative??
  • Is it original?
  • Does it contribute something new to the discourse?
  • Is it on an unusual topic, or does it shed new light on an old topic?
  • Does it give an interesting perspective to a story?
  • Is it from a voice you haven't heard before?
  • Is it from the perspective of an underrepresented group?
  • Does it make you think?

 

 

Writing in other languages

We are keen to ensure that the Write Awards receive as broad a range of submissions as possible. We also know that many people writing on gender equality and violence against women in the UK will be doing so in another language.

Unfortunately, due to our staff capacity and time constraints, we can only accept pieces that have been translated into English (this is something we are keen to change in the future years).

However, if you are unable to translate your piece, please let us know – we will do all we can to share it among our networks and find someone with the expertise to get your piece translated and eligible for submission. Contact Joanna Zawadzka at jo.zawadzka@zerotolerance.org.uk for more help.

 

 

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Related downloads

Media Guidelines on Violence Against Women and Girls for BroadcastMedia Guidelines on Violence Against Women and Girls for Broadcast Media Guidelines on reporting on men's violence against women and girls for broadcast journalism.

Zero Tolerance's Media Guidelines on Violence Against Women and Girls for PrintZero Tolerance's Media Guidelines on Violence Against Women and Girls for Print Zero Tolerance's media guidelines on violence against women and girls are for journalists, editors, and other media professionals.

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