OREANDA-NEWS. December 29, 2010. Citi to recognize Russian journalists for drawing attention to promoting financial literacy and the development of small business in the regions

Moscow — Today Citi Russia announced the launch of the Citi Journalistic Excellence Award for Contribution to Sustainable Development. The main goal of the award is to encourage the development of the social aspect of financial journalism in the Russian regions.

Internationally the Citi Journalistic Excellence Award was established in 1982 and to date, more than 1,000 journalists have participated from Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America.

In Russia, the award focuses on coverage of current issues such as promoting financial literacy and developing small business and entrepreneurship. These topics are the main categories for the award.

Journalists from both national and regional media outlets registered in Russia are invited to participate in the competition. Materials covering either of the topics and published in the Russian media in 2010 will be accepted for the award.

"Financial journalism is not just about macroeconomics, investment and banks, it is also about social work in its literal meaning. Often articles and reports become the only source of unbiased information for common people on how to not lose money or how to start a new business. Journalists whose publications increase the level of financial literacy of readers and highlight the impact of small businesses, encourage sustainable development in the regions where they operate. Although less visible than the covering of multibillion ruble deals, this kind of work is no less important. The aim of the award is to deal with this inequality," comments Denis Denisov, Public Affairs Officer at ZAO Citibank.

The independent judging committee will include representatives from the journalistic and academic communities, as well as finance experts, economists and other prominent public figures. Citi will not be represented on the judging committee.

In February 2011, the independent judging committee will decide on the short list of finalists from which two winners will be nominated for the main award. In July 2011, the winners will get a unique opportunity to attend a journalism course at the internationally renowned Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in the United States. As part of the two-week course at the school, winners from around the world will have a chance to participate in training sessions and master classes led by recognized leaders in financial journalism, as well as they will be able to to meet acclaimed analysts from the New York Stock Exchange, representatives from the US Federal Reserve, Standard and Poor’s and the financial news agency Bloomberg Business News.

The full list of the documents required for application and competition rules can be found on our site at www.citibank.ru.

For more information about the award or to clarify any questions about competition rules, please contact Evgenia Shipova from the organizing committee on +7 (495) 775 00 77 or at citiaward@pbn.ru.