Online prize: $3000
By Bala Shah

The Bastiat Prize for Journalism is highly regarded and was inspired by the 19th-century French philosopher and journalist Frédéric Bastiat. The Bastiat recognizes and rewards writers whose published works promote the institutions of a free society: limited government, rule of law brokered by an independent judiciary, protection of private property, free markets, free speech, and sound science.

For the first time, the Bastiat prize is being expanded to include one for Online Journalism.  Online journalism includes blogs and self published articles.

This new Bastiat online award has a very strong sub-continental connection.  Mumbai-based blogger, journalist and author Amit Varma is on the panel along with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Esther Dyson and Scott Banister.  Amit Varma won the Bastiat Prize in 2007 and he blogs at India Uncut.

LIRNEasia (lirneasia.net) describes itself as a regional information and communication technology (ICT) policy and regulation capacity-building organization active across the Asia Pacific.  Put simply, it is a think tank and research body which strives to improve the lives of the people in the Asia Pacific. By all accounts, it is doing a sterling job.

And the LIRNEasia CEO, Rohan Samarajiva, Ph.D,   is among the 3 finalists for the Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism.  Apart from being on the Board of a number of prestigious organizations, Sri Lanka based Rohan Samarajiva is also a visiting faculty member at TERI University in New Delhi.

While the Bastiat prize for journalism has 3 awards totaling $15,000, the Online Journalism award only has 1 winner who will be given $3000.

The prize will be announced on Oct 26, 2009.