From November 6, Irkutsk begins accepting entries for the annual journalists and photographers contest Golden Comma, which this year offers eight categories, from pieces on urban problems and socially important projects to photo works and media projects on different platforms. Participants will receive the mayor s awards, and a special prize will be the title Master of Journalism. The awards ceremony will take place on December 14.

Starting November 6, submissions will be accepted for the now traditional annual journalists’ and photographers’ contest “Golden Comma.”
This year, 8 categories are offered for participation:
1. “Feedback.” Periodical print publications, television, radio, news agencies, and news portals are evaluated separately. Awarded for the best article or series of articles about the city of Irkutsk that has generated a broad public response and was prepared with the involvement of a wide audience and experts on the issues covered in the material, as well as on the basis of calls, letters, comments, discussions on Internet resources, citation frequency, etc. Materials (a series of materials) showing urban problems and ways to solve them are welcomed.
2. “Socially Responsible Press (socially oriented projects).” Periodical print publications, television, radio, news agencies, and news portals are evaluated separately. Awarded for systematic, consistent coverage on a pro bono basis of socially significant projects (campaigns, contests, festivals, and other events organized by initiative groups of citizens, volunteers, public organizations and associations, business, and local authorities).
3. “Irkutsk – Territory of Development.” Periodical print publications, television, radio, news agencies, and news portals are evaluated separately. Awarded for systematic, consistent coverage in the media and on the Internet of materials about the strategic development of the city of Irkutsk, its investment and tourism appeal. In this category, a special prize is provided for the best publication about small and medium-sized businesses in the city of Irkutsk
4. “Irkutsk – Media. Model of the Future.” Awarded for the creation and distribution by an editorial office of content across multiple platforms: print version, the information and telecommunications network “Internet” (popular social networks, Twitter, LiveJournal, etc., excluding the publication’s own website), television, radio, mobile communications. The material must generate a broad public response (comments, discussions on Internet resources, citation frequency).
5. “Irkutsk – A View Through the Lens” - for the best photo work or series of works about the city of Irkutsk, well-known residents of Irkutsk who make a significant contribution to the city’s development.
6. “Real Benefit” The category is awarded for the best journalistic campaign, regardless of the type of media outlet, conducted by the editorial office of a periodical print publication, TV company, radio channel, or news agency, as a result of which positive socially significant results were achieved.
7. “Debut”
The category is awarded for the best work first presented in 2012, regardless of the type of media outlet. Project debut – for a new project implemented in 2012. Journalist debut – for the best work by an aspiring journalist first presented in 2012.
According to the results of the contest, laureates who take first places are awarded the “Golden Comma” badge, a diploma, and the Mayor of Irkutsk’s prize; winners of prize places receive diplomas and valuable prizes.
The contest traditionally also awards another special prize – “Journalism Master.” The winner in this category is awarded a diploma from the Mayor of Irkutsk and a “Golden Comma with a Diamond” badge. The participants’ works are sent to the Irkutsk City Museum.
The award ceremony for the finalists and laureates of the “Golden Comma” will take place on December 14, 2012.
Entries accepted for the contest are works published (aired) in the period from January 1, 2012 to October 30, 2012. Materials for the contest are accepted from November 6 to November 23, 2012 from 10:00 to 17:00 at the address: 664025, Irkutsk, 14 Lenin St., office 108, in the department for information policy, media relations, and public relations of the administration of the city of Irkutsk. Works submitted to the contest will not be returned and will not be reviewed. For more information about the contest regulations, please contact the department for information policy, media relations, and public relations of the administration of the city of Irkutsk. Inquiries by phone: 8 (3952) 52-00-38, 52-00-12.
Reference:
The contest was established in the year of the city’s 340th anniversary. Over the past ten years, more than 600 journalists have taken part in it, 180 people have been recognized with awards and letters of appreciation, 10 of whom were awarded the high title of “Journalism Master.” The “Golden Comma with a Diamond” was awarded to such prominent figures of the Irkutsk journalistic community as Gennady Mikhailovich Butakov, Oleg Vsevolodovich Zheltovsky, Oleg Innokentyevich Kharitonov, Alexander Ivanovich Golovanov, Igor Konstantinovich Petrov, Vladimir Vasilyevich Khodiy, Igor Grigoryevich Alter.
The contest jury includes honorary citizens of Irkutsk, chief editors of the city’s leading media outlets, public figures, and Duma deputies. The chairman of the jury is the Mayor of Irkutsk, V.I. Kondrashov.
Based on materials from the press service of the administration of the city of Irkutsk