"Metro" awarded in the World Young Reader Prize 2009 contest
04-08-2009
Press release
The project "Round Table 2009" by daily "Metro" has been honoured with a Jury Commendation in the prestige contest World Young Reader Prize, organized by World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers WAN-IFRA.
The project carried out by "Metro" in cooperation with Polish Youth Association (Stowarzyszenie Polska Mlodych) has been recognised in "public service" category. Jury particularly appreciated the ability to engage young people in democracy-related issues as well as the energy and passion of the team executing the action.
- The newspaper devised an exciting and empowering project to get young people interested in a democratic process redesigned for the digital age. The project not only gave youth a voice in what is happening now, it also allowed them to reflect on history and debate the future - the jury commented.
The project by "Metro" included a number of complementary activities. First of all an editorial series of articles entitled "Poland 2029" which engaged readers' and experts' proposals of mail goals for Poland for the next 20 years. Then the "Round Table 2009 Debate" where we managed to gather young generation representatives of media, scientists, NGOs, trade unions and employers. They chose 5 most important challenges for Poland which were afterwards put to the vote in the internet - during the first e-voting in Poland organized by the Polish Youth Association (Stowarzyszenie Polska Mlodych). 19000 internet users registered to vote and to choose main challenges for Poland.
- We performed the "Round Table 2009" project to provoke and inspire young people to take part in the debate concerning Poland and its future. We are truly proud that not only did we manage to engage the readers in our action but also we gained the international recognition for the project - comments Waldemar Pas, "Metro" editor in chief.
- The World Young Reader Prize is a great honour for us, and at the same time the reason of satisfaction - adds Joanna Parczynska, "Metro" publisher - A year ago we redefined the profile of the paper concentrating on the issues important for the young generation. Commendation in such a prestigious contest favouring the projects directed to young people, proves that our editorial strategy is a success.
WAN-IFRA's annual World Young Reader Prize competition honours innovative newspapers that have devised, in the judges' opinion, the best project or activity in the past 24 months for young reader development. For this year edition 65 projects from 32 countries were signed up. The World Young Reader Prizes were awarded to i.a. "Zero Hora" from Brazil, "La Repubblica" from Italy and "Hamburger Abendblatt" from Germany. The awards will be presented to the laureates during official gala in September in Prague.
The prizes are supported by Norske Skog of Norway, global newsprint supplier, as part of WAN-IFRA's Newspapers in Education Development Project.
