AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, a celebrated community media policy advocate, and journalist has been selected as one of the member in the jury panel for the second time that will pick the winner of the Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism – Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands.
Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism – Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands recognizes talented new journalists who have put in a strong performance when it comes to reporting the news. Nominee demonstrates exceptional commitment to press freedom and independent coverage and use innovative methods to disseminate the information. They show extraordinary dedication to journalism as a means to hold those in power accountable and to serve as a watchdog in the public interest. They manage to share stories that would otherwise be left untold. For more information: https://www.
Hans Verploeg died May 25, 2010. He devoted his working life to spreading and protecting free speech, nationally and internationally. He was 25 years tireless Secretary General of the Dutch Association of Journalists and was co-founder of the Foundation for Development Communication, which later went into Free Voice, which he was president until his death in 2010. As a member of the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, Verploeg was very much concerned with the safety of journalists in threatened areas, and he did not hesitate to speak to governments when journalists work impossible and gave no space to free speech. For his work, Hans Verploeg received on 6 March 2012 posthumously awarded the Prize of the Free Word awarded by the International Press Centre Nieuwspoort. Hans Verploeg was to protect freedom of the press more than work, it was his way of life in line with Fighting injustice, convincing authorities, human honor.
Hans Verploeg Awards is widely recognized as the most prestigious award for journalists. The winner of the Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism – Hans Verploeg Awards 2016 will receive a media scholarship as well as an expenses –paid visit to Netherlands where the award will be conferred in person at the Free Press Award ceremony on the 2 November 2016. During the yearly ceremony on the International Day to End Impunity, Free Press Unlimited will also recognize exceptional work in the category Most Resilient Journalist.
The jury panel member AHM Bazlur has more than 20 years’ experience in leveraging community media/media and the right to communication to create successful policy advocacy in Bangladesh in line with community media development. He is one of the founder of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). BNNRC devoted entirely to Promote Community Media for Development (CM4D) and leads supports and advocates for the initiators to actively provide independent community broadcasting in Bangladesh.
AHM Bazlur is the first Bangladeshi community media journalist and Media Policy Advocate to sit on the jury panel for the Newcomer of the Year in Journalism – Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands.
Presently he is one of the founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS), Community Radio Monitoring Committee, and National Broadcasting Act Drafting Committee 2016 of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), and Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum
