Sharjah – Asdaf News:
The ‘Independent Freelance Photojournalist Award’ (IFPA), given annually to honour and celebrate photojournalism and raise awareness of its crucial role in ensuring how complex stories are told seamlessly, is presented as part of the Xposure International Photography Festival, which is organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB).
Awarded to photojournalists that have a solid dedication to their craft and persistently tell the stories of our global community, the IFPA recognizes their achievements. It strives to encourage better awareness and appreciation for the crucial role journalism plays in society as well as ethical and responsible journalistic practices.
The festival has opened entries for its 2024 awards edition to both seasoned and emerging photojournalists who need to send in their applications to https://awards.xposure.ae/register/ before October 30, 2023.
Award categories and prizes
The following award categories are open for submissions: Environment; Spot News; and Solutions. The Environment category highlights the most urgent environmental problems and issues facing the world, while the Solutions category honours visual journalism that tackles challenging problems by coming up with quick and efficient solutions.
The winners will split a reward fund that totals more than $15,000 in cash. Participants may submit up to three photo essays, each with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 pictures.
Four distinguished judges who are leaders in the photojournalism field and are members of the IFPA are on the panel. Aidan Sullivan, Muhammed Muheisen, Maria Mann, and Lars Boering, four seasoned experts, bring their substantial knowledge and years of experience to the judging table to ensure the highest standards of assessment and recognition.
Tariq Saeed Allay: Photojournalists inspire us to promote ethical journalism
HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), said: “As we enter the third edition of the Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Award, we are witnessing remarkable developments in the photography scene worldwide. Photography has evolved into a powerful tool for documenting and conveying key social and political thoughts and ideas, profoundly impacting social, environmental, and political changes and serving as a catalyst for meaningful change.”
“The Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Award recognises the invaluable contributions of those who dedicate themselves to witnessing and documenting reality through the art of photojournalism. This prestigious award serves as a distinguished platform, showcasing the exceptional work of fearless and inspiring visual storytellers to thousands of festival visitors and industry professionals who attend Xposure annually.” Allay added.
“We firmly believe that photojournalism plays an essential role in expressing diverse perspectives and shaping public discourse. By honouring and celebrating those within the industry, we strive to elevate the standards of photojournalism and further underscore its significance as a tool for expression and positive transformation, while furthering our mission of promoting ethical and responsible journalism practice,” the SGMB Director General concluded.
For more information on the award and how to submit entries, please visit the festival’s website at https://awards.xposure.ae/.
