United Nations Correspondents Association Announces the 2005 UNCA Awards Dinner and Dance

Diplomats, U.N. Correspondents from around the globe, and Dignitaries from the worlds of business, politics, entertainment, and academe gather to celebrate journalistic excellence. Sir Brian Urquhart to Receive “Citizen of the World” Award. Special Guest UN Goodwill Ambassador and Actress Julia Ormond.

(PRWEB) November 29, 2005 -- The Executive Committee of United Nations Correspondents Association Announces the 2005 UNCA Awards Dinner and Dance to take place Friday, December 2, 2005 at the United Nations, U.N. Delegates’ Lounge, First Avenue and 45th Street in New York City. The evening will feature a VIP cocktail reception, dinner and dance, and UNCA Awards ceremony presided by H.E. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Special Guest will be UN Goodwill Ambassador and Actress Julia Ormond.

The UNCA Awards were established in 1995 to encourage in depth coverage of the United Nations and its work. The UNCA Annual Awards include the $10,000 Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize for written media (including online media), the $10,000 Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize for broadcast journalism, and a $10,000 prize for any entry in any medium that best covers the humanitarian and development aspects of the U.N. and its agencies. The UNCA/ Ranan Lurie Awards for political cartoons include a $10,000 first prize, $5,000 second prize, $2,000 third prize and ten honorable mention plaques.

The Awards attract entrants from across the world from Malagasy, Brazil, Thailand and Ghana to the United States, England, France and Spain. Prizes have been won by some of the world’s most prestigious newspapers and broadcasters, but also by small struggling publications. The winners all have in common a commitment to the finest standards of journalism.

The 2005 “Citizen of the World Award” will be presented to Sir Brian Urquhart, one of the original members of the U.N., former U.N. Under-Secretary General, and pioneer of peacekeeping. Previous Citizen of the World Awards have been presented to Dr. Hans Blix and Lakhdar Brahimi as well as Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie, for their work with U.N. related agencies.

Ambassadors and Diplomats from UK, Japan, Russia, Italy, Greece, Qatar, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Germany as well as U.N. Correspondents from around the globe will attend the black tie dinner and dance.

Gala Chairman is Jim Wurst. Co-Chairs of the evening are Anthony Jenkins and Ian Williams.

The gala will take place on Friday, December 2, 2005, 6:30 PM at United Nations Headquarters, First Avenue and 45th Street, New York City.

Black Tie or National Dress.

Contribution: $400 and up.

For tickets call Clair McCarthy 646-645-6638

To learn more about the United Nations Correspondents Association go to www.unca.com.

Press inquiries please contact Ann Forster at 212-243-7306

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