Notts SVSS Joins WEVAW Steering Group for a second year

We are delighted to have been asked by Zero Tolerance to join EVAW, Rape Crisis England and Wales and other organisations on the WEVAW Steering Group.

About the awards

The WEVAW Awards were created by Zero Tolerance a Scotland-based organisation working to end men’s violence against women.  They have been running for 10 years now with this being the second time it has been open across the UK.  The awards celebrate some of the best journalism on violence against women and girls (VAWG) and that which challenges or raises awareness on gender inequality.

The awards focus on all print-based articles including journalist, opinion pieces, blogs and self-published articles.  Anybody can nominate pieces they think are suitable.  Articles will then go through to shortlisting before final judgement.

‘Last year our role saw us reading through many articles on different themes.  One tackled misogyny and ableism in women’s football while another the experiences of Asian women facing domestic abuse.  An article that really stays with me was about and FMG survivor speaking out and helping others to access support’ said Karen Jardine, Campaigns and Communications Manager for Notts SVSS.

“The fact that there was such a wide range of articles shows that there is a another, better way of reporting.  One that does not resort to rape myths and victim-blaming that we too often tackle in our #NoMoreRapeMyths campaign.  It is possible to talk about rape in a way that upholds women and challenges the attitudes that enable violence to take place.’

Seen an article you believe deserves an award?

If you have seen an article on any aspect of VAWG or which tackles gender inequality and you think it should be considered for an award, you can submit details online.  Entry is free and it can be your own article or one written by someone else.  The article itself must have been published between 01/10/22 and 30/09/23 and (with the exception of blog submissions) must have appeared in any local or national UK publication, online or print.

There are several categories which articles can be submitted under, which include:

Best Piece – News

• A “hard news” story, i.e. a piece of reporting intended to communicate the facts of the story.

Best Piece – Feature

• A lengthier feature piece, i.e. a piece of writing intended to provide more analysis and context than a straightforward news piece.

Best Piece – Opinion and Comment

• A piece where the author expresses their personal opinion.

Best Piece – Blogs and Self Published Articles

• The piece might include a post with the author’s own opinions, a review, or commentary on policy, research or world events.
• The piece may be published on blogging sites or organisational blogs. Personal blogs and websites are accepted as long as they are freely available online.

Previous winners include:

• The scale of it is truly frightening, unthinkable: MSP urges action to curb risks facing disabled women at risk of domestic violence and abuse Marion Scott – the Sunday Post
• Frank Mullane: how the murder of his sister and nephew changed his life and purpose Anna Moore – The Guardian
• After #WhereIsAnoof – a feature where Qatari women ask how safe they really are if a Qatari women with a public profile can disappear for three months. Dania Akkad – Middle East Eye
• A blog on The Emotional Labour of Dealing with the Media  by Winnie M Li

You can find out more about nominating an article for an award on this link: https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/wevaw-how-enter/

Wooden Spoon

Every year a Wooden Spoon is given to a problematic theme that has occurred during the year.  Previously this has been given to ‘nice guys’ when the media is overly sympathetic to perpetrators.  Another theme was ‘invisible women’ where coverage focussed on the perpetrator rather than the women harmed.

WEVAW are taking suggestions on what the theme for the 2023 Awards should be.  Email your suggestions direct to Jo at Zero Tolerance: jo.zawadzka@zerotolerance.org.uk

Your help can make the awards a success…

We are really excited about the WEVAW award being made UK-wide and would really like your help to make it a success.  You can do this by:

• Nominating articles for an award or themes for the Wooden Spoon. You can find out more here: https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/wevaw-how-enter/
• Sharing publicity for the award by following us, Zero Tolerance or EVAW on social media