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IFAJ Star Prize - 2008

The 2008 Farm Writers’ Star Prize for rural and agricultural writing in NSW and the ACT closed on 30th April 2008.

Matthew Cawood (centre), who writes for the Rural Press group of publications, is congratulated by Mark Druery, NSW Territory Manager, John Deere and Farm Writers President, Bev Jordan (right) after receiving his prize at the June Farm Writers’ function.

The winner this year is Armidale based journalist Matthew Cawood. Matthew writes for the Rural Press Group of agricultural weeklies, and this is the second year he has won this contest.

Retired NSW editor and journalist, Don Jones, judged a record number of entries for their style, content and objectivity. Mr. Jones chose Matthew’s comprehensive story highlighting the risks to Australian agriculture of a research gap and lack of expertise to manage diseases already decimating bee colonies in the rest of the world and the resultant export opportunities. Titled ‘Attack on pollinators’, the article was published in The Land newspaper on 10th May 2007.

Matthew’s prize includes his registration at the IFAJ Congress in Austria/Slovenia and a contribution to his airfare to the value of $5,000. In addition his article was entered as the NSW/ACT finalist in the national contest to find Australia’s entry to the International Star Prize.

John Deere sponsors the award both internationally and in Australia. The national prize is $1000 and a certificate presented in the winner's home State. The 2008 Star Prize for the best piece of agricultural writing in the world (750 Euros and a trophy) will be presented at the IFAJ World Congress to be held in Austria/Slovenia during September.

Browse the results from previous years' NSW Star Prize contests or the details of the international round at www.ifaj.org.

RULES
1. Eligibility: The contest is open only to members in good standing of Farm Writers' Association of NSW Inc. Corporate members may nominate up to three entrants. An individual may not enter more than one article, must be over 21 years of age and normally resident or working in New South Wales or the ACT.

2. Articles must be on a subject of wide agricultural interest and have been published as editorial material between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 in print or on-line.

3. Prize: The winner of the NSW round will be awarded a certificate and a prize, not exceeding $5,000 in value, to enable him or her to attend the IFAJ congress to be held in Austria and Slovenia in September 2008. The prize is to be taken in the form of registration and accommodation fees plus a contribution towards airfare and may not be converted to cash. The winner will be entered as the NSW Finalist in the national judging, administered by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists, to select the Australian entrant in the IFAJ Star Prize writing contest.

4. Writing will be judged on style, content, objectivity/balance and likelihood of winning the Star Prize. The layout and design of the article will not be considered in the judging. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

To enter:

• Attach the text of the article in English to an e-mail to
  starprize@nswfarmwriters.org
• The e-mail must be received by close of business Wednesday 30 April 2008.
• The e-mail to which the article is attached must contain the following:
• If the entrant is an individual, rural or retired member, the name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the entrant. If the entrant is a corporate member, the name and address of the organisation, the name, email address and telephone number of the principal corporate contact and the name, position, email address and telephone number of the author.
• The name of the publication or Web site where the article was published along with the date and issue of the publication.
• Electronic proof of publication (for example, a jpeg showing the article as published along with the name of the publication/website and the date of publication) must be provided and the entrant must be prepared and able to mail, on request, a tear sheet or photocopy of the article as it appeared in the publication or online to The Star Prize, GPO Box 1108, Sydney, NSW 1043.