Building on the success of previous years, British Consul General, Richard Makepeace, launched The Inquirer Award 2007 – the investigative reporter of the year award. Print and television journalists from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine will compete for The Inquirer Award 2007 which aims to find the journalist who can demonstrate an ability to examine, in depth, a significant issue that is relevant to the region and its people. As part of the Inquirer Award project, a series of training workshops on the skills of investigative reporting for the print media and television will be held in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.  For the first time this year, the project has expanded to add an element of training for Photo Journalists.Consultants from The Thomson Foundation will conduct the training. The Award project is a media initiative funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in co-ordination with The Thomson Foundation. The Thomson Foundation is a non-profit organisation that provides practical, intensive training to journalists, managers, technicians and production staff in television, radio and the press.  Established in 1962, the Thomson Foundation is based in Cardiff, Wales, and its consultants have held workshops in many countries around the world. Note to editors: Print and television journalists will not be competing against each other.  They will be in two separate categories.

Print and television journalists working for any Arabic language publication or television station in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine are eligible to compete for the prestigious The Inquirer Award 2007. A panel of independent judges will be looking for entries that show comprehensive and thorough research, incisive interviewing techniques, and creative well-constructed writing and presentation. As well as receiving The Inquirer Award 2007, the first place winner for the best investigative report for the print media and the first place winner for the best investigative report for television will enjoy an all-expense paid study tour for one week in the UK. The deadline for receiving all entries is 28 December 2007.