Rosa Cisneros Memorial Award for Journalists

The Rosa Cisneros Memorial Award of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR) recognises a reporter, writer, producer, publisher or broadcaster who covers social issues in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Eligible entries include any story or body of work on sexual and reproductive health (such as family planning, HIV/AIDS, abortion, and gender-based violence) that was published or broadcast during 2006.

This award, named in honour of a women’s rights attorney and former director of IPPF/WHR’s Member Association in El Salvador, recognises an individual or media institution that has made significant contributions to positive public awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in the Western Hemisphere.



Selection criteria are:

• Content: Does the story accomplish the mission of IPPF/WHR? Does the content challenge social norms and push the audience to formulate new opinions about sexual and reproductive health and rights? Does the issue address how society is affected; how the individual is affected?
• Relevance: Does the story present clear and accurate data regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights? Does the story resonate with current social and political concerns? Does the story address the issue in a way that challenges misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health and rights?
• Impact: Does the story reach a wide audience? Does the story strive to educate the public about sexual and reproductive health? Did the story generate a public response (letters to the editor, phone calls to radio shows)? Did the story influence policymakers?

The deadline for application is May 21 2007.



Application information:

To enter, send a copy of your work or your nominee’s work (additional materials such as news and magazine clippings and videos are encouraged) and a letter describing how the work meets the above-mentioned criteria.


Previous winner:

The 2006 award winner is Women’s eNews, a website and daily newswire that covers reproductive and women's health issues, gender-based violence and women's rights in the domestic and international arenas.