Deadline for entries in 5 May.

Attacks on press freedom figure strongly in this year's awards: a special category for "teaching freedom" will honour projects that make sure new generations understand the importance and fragility of freedom of expression and the role of journalists who have worked and died in its service.

"More than ever before, it is essential that young people understand the central role that press freedom plays in democratic society," said Dr Aralynn McMane, Executive Director for Youth Engagement and News Literacy at WAN-IFRA. "We witnessed some outstanding work in teaching about freedom of the press after the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo, and know there are more projects out there to be shared. WAN-IFRA wants to make sure those efforts are recognised and repeated as widely as possible."

The World Young Reader Prizes will also feature a second special category on "Digital First," for news publishers that most creatively engage the young solely through mobile telephone, tablets or other digital devices. The category is supported by CCI Europe.

The other categories include brand (marketing initiatives), editorial (for innovative content strategies), enduring excellence, news in education (supported by sitesALIVE), public service, the Natasa Prize for printing plants and the World Young Reader News Publisher of the Year.

Entries are being accepted through 5 May. Full details can be found at http://www.wan-ifra.org/worldyoungreaderprize

All categories call for activities that target people under age 25. The awards will be presented on 3 September in Mumbai, India, as part of the WAN-IFRA India Conference & Expo.

WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Frankfurt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore and India, is the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses.

Inquiries to: Aralynn McMane, Executive Director for Youth Engagement and News Literacy, WAN-IFRA, 96 bis, rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 18. Fax: +33 1 42 78 92 33. E-mail: worldyoungreaderprize@wan-ifra.org