Asylum writing award invites student applications

STUDENT journalists are being invited to compete for a writing award on the topic of asylum.

A joint venture between Amnesty International Scotland and the Sunday Herald newspaper, the award aims to promote accurate, balanced reporting on asylum.

As well as receiving the award, the winner will have their work published in the Sunday Herald during this year’s Refugee Week, taking place between June 18 and 24.

Says John Watson, programme director for Amnesty International Scotland: “We want to encourage top-quality reporting on refugee issues. We are working with the Sunday Herald to promote balanced and in-depth journalism and to showcase and encourage young journalistic talent.

“We hope this competition will encourage students to research and write stories which go beyond polarised debates and myths to cast light on issues such as the experiences of asylum seekers in Scotland and the root causes of asylum – the human rights abuses that force people to flee their homes.”

The deadline for entries is April 30 and articles must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length.

For more information, visit www.amnesty.org.uk/scotland