MAM Pismak Forum

Forum Pismaków  is the oldest contest for school newspapers in Poland, it’s organized in Wałbrzych Since 1996.  It’s originator is a polish language teacher and a longstanding school media animator – Mrs. Elżbieta Sura (also the guardian o school papers  „OBOK” and „MIG13”). For 6 years the contest was regional (first the wałbrzyskie district, later dolnośląskie), and from the 7th edition it had nation wide range. From the 11th Forum (except 13th) the gala is preceded with two-day journalism workshops for the representatives of the best editorial offices. From the 14th edition the Forum is co-organized by the New Media Foundation.  Once again the Forum is under the patronage of Ministry of National Education.

Pismak Forum distinguishing school papers promotes both independent thinking and nonconformity. Values such as ability of dialog and argumentation, objectivism, respect for opponents are awarded. The diversity of subjects and form of journalist statements and also the esthetics of the paper are rated, although the professionalism of the issue (color, better paper)  have no influence on the evaluation. Jury appreciates moral courage of the authors, manifesting itself in picking out relevant to the student community problems and objective presentation. The most sought after feature is originality – The Forums task is to distinguish newspapers, which create new quality in school media world – without copying from other media and with interests and activity going beyond known paths.