In this new edition of the competition, it will be possible to present pieces of journalism that have been published in the press or broadcast on radio, television or via Internet between 18th October 2007 and 17th October 2008

The Patronat de Turisme of the Diputació de Lleida and the tourism brand “Ara Lleida” officially invite entries for the 20th “Pica d’Estats” International Tourism Prize, with total prize money of € 45,000 and a new competition category dedicated to new technologies. The competition celebrates its 20th edition with the incorporation of a new prize category relating to digital mass media. It has also increased the total value of the prize money awarded, making this the competition that offers the largest amount of prize money for tourism-related journalism in the whole of Spain.

In the 20th edition, there will be 9 competition categories, offering prizes for the best pieces of Written Press, Radio, Television and, from now on, Internet journalism associated with any aspect of tourism in the Lands of Lleida. The entries must have been published or broadcast by national or international media and can be in any language.

The winning entries in the prize categories for: Best written press article containing general information, Best specialised press article relating to travel and tourism, Best photographic report, Best radio broadcast, Best television broadcast, and Best international press report, shall each receive prizes of € 6,000, while the winning entries in the categories for Best work by local media from the Lands of Lleida, Best Internet report and the Career achievement prize relating to involvement with the “Pica d’Estats” prizes, shall each receive € 3,000.

The inscription period will last one month and will start on 18th October 2008. The competition will be open to all pieces of journalism that deal with the tourist attractions of the Lands of Lleida and that have been published or broadcast between 18th October 2007 and 18th October 2008. The jury shall meet in the city of Lleida on Saturday 31st January 2009 to decide the winning entries in each prize category.
The jury for this 20th edition of the “Pica d’Estats” prizes will be formed by the following professionals from the world of media and communications: Josep Carles Rius, Dean of the Col•legi de Periodistes de Catalunya (College of Journalists of Catalonia) (President); Margarida Baró, Head of Programmes at Localia TV Catalunya; Josep Cuní, Director of the programme "Els Matins de TV3"; Lluís Foix, Managing Director of La Vanguardia Digital; Antonio Franco, Assessor to the Presidency of Grupo Zeta; Ramon Mesull, President of the Lleida branch of the Col•legi de Periodistes de Catalunya (College of Journalists of Catalonia), Mariano Palacín, President of the Federació Espanyola de Periodistes i Escriptors de Turisme (Spanish Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers); Roser Perera, Delegate for Catalunya Ràdio in Lleida (vocals), and Xavier Moncayo, Director of the Patronat de Turisme (secretary).

The "Pica d'Estats" Prize is a reference point for tourism journalism in Spain and aims to promote the tourism, landscapes and territory of Lleida. The 19th edition of the competition attracted 202 works of which 57 competed in the written press section; 90 in the specialised press section; 26 in the radio section and 29 in the television section. There were also 10 entries in the international press section (from Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Russia).

The prize-winning works and journalists in the 19th edition of the prizes were:

- Best written press article containing general information: “Mirada a la nueva arquitectura de Lleida” (“A look at the new architecture of Lleida”), article written by Diego Aránega with photographs by Laurent Sansen, published in Magazine Innova Ocular (the magazine of the National Association of Ocular Microsurgery).

- Best specialised press article relating to travel and tourism: “El romànic a la Vall de Boí” (“The Romanesque art and architecture of the Boí Valley”), by Mireia Ibàñez, published in the magazine Muntanya CEC (Catalan Ramblers Centre).

- Best photographic report: “Deportes que salpican emoción” (“Exhilarating Sports”), photography by Gonzalo M. Azumendi, published in the magazine Geo.

- Best international press report: “Cuisines des terroirs - La Catalogne” (“Local Gastronomy - Catalonia”), report by Alix François Meier broadcast by the French-German cultural TV channel Arte TV.

- Best radio broadcast: “No es un día cualqueira” (“Not just any day”) by RNE, directed and presented by Pepa Fernández.

- Best television broadcast: “El cañón amenazado” (“The canyon under threat”), programme by Pilar Granero and Joan Sella which was broadcast within the space called “El escarabajo verde” (“The Green Beetle”) on La 2 (TVE).

- Best work in the local media: “Hèstes, er esperit d’un pòble” (“Festivals, the heart and soul of a people”), report by Anna Sàez, Mikel Aristregui and Anna Geli that was published in the magazine Aran Ath Dia.

- Best Career Trajectory: for the journalist Joan Tort, of the newspaper Avui who is a regular collaborator with various publications associated with the tourism sector.

Lleida, 14th June, 2008

Note: We include the rules and an inscription form for the 20th edition of the “Pica d’Estats” International Tourism Prize for Press, Radio, Television and Internet.