Among all the necessary conditions for the development of civil society in Ukraine and Donetsk region, the information component is undoubtedly dominant. In order to have a significant impact on people's lives and changes in state policy, Ukrainian public organizations must form a stable information core around themselves and become a commonplace phenomenon in Ukraine's information space.

Instead, the results of a sociological study indicate that two-thirds of the population of Donetsk region expressed doubts about the ability of public organizations to protect rights or influence the authorities in decision-making by the latter. Such an attitude toward public organizations is connected not so much with the personal experience of the population as with various stereotypes of the past.

Thus, the need to improve the image of non-governmental organizations of Donetsk region and Ukraine as a whole becomes clear.

The phenomenon of citizen journalism, when people without professional journalistic training are able to use the tools of modern technology and the power of the internet to create information messages, brings fundamental changes to the work of the media. It is citizen journalism that can play a significant role in the process of informing broad segments of the population about public organizations, their activities and role in society.

Proceeding from this, the portal of non-political news NGO.donetsk.ua announces an information campaign - a citizen journalism competition "Civic Evolution," dedicated to the topic of civil society development in Ukraine (best article, photo report and video).

The campaign, which will engage hundreds of active Ukrainians, will be able to:

- widely cover the work of non-governmental organizations of Donetsk region and Ukraine; - become an effective mechanism for overcoming negative stereotypes about public organizations that formed around the latter back in Soviet times, and replace them with positive ones; - partially overcome the "information isolationism" of non-governmental organizations and inform broad circles of the public about the activities of the latter.

Regulations on the competition "Civic Evolution"

General provisions

1. Purpose of the competition 1.1 The goals of the "Civic Evolution" competition are: - identification and support of civic initiatives, promotion of their development, coverage of their implementation; - popularization of civic activity, promotion of uniting like-minded people around initiatives and projects, which would contribute to their creative and social realization, introduction of new ideas and methods in building civil society; - exchange of experience and unification of independent and autonomous civic initiatives.

2. Organizers and partners of the competition 2.1 The organizer of the competition is the Portal of Non-Political News NGO.DONETSK.UA with the support of the "Open Ukraine" foundation (www.openukraine.org) 2.2 The direct organization and conduct of the competition is carried out by the Organizing Committee, which is created from representatives of the organizers of the competition. 2.3 For the purpose of operational management of the competition, coordination of the activities of partners and organizers, a Coordinator is appointed from among the members of the Organizing Committee.

3. Conditions of participation in the competition 3.1 Representatives of civic initiatives aimed at: - activation of public, social, cultural associations, movements, support of their activities; - organization of public, cultural, entertainment, sports events aimed at the development and democratization of Ukrainian society, at upholding the rights and interests of citizens; - realization of creative, public and organizational qualities of citizens, especially young people; - patriotic education of youth, education and development of national consciousness in society. 3.2 There are no restrictions regarding the participants of the competition as to age, social status, or education. 3.3 Printed materials, video and audio recordings, presentations, photo reports that fully cover the activities of the initiatives, the goals set before them, the events held, etc., are submitted to the competition. 3.4 Competition materials are submitted to the address of the Organizing Committee: Donetsk, Shkilnyi Blvd. 7, apt. 42, postal code: 83015. Materials can also be sent by e-mail (ngo.donetsk.ua@gmail.com) or submitted on electronic media.

4. Conditions for holding the competition 4.1 The competition is held from May 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. 4.2 The competition is held in three nominations: - best printed material; - best video series based on the results of initiatives; - best photo report from the scene. 4.3 Competition materials are submitted from July 1, 2009 to December 10, 2009. 4.4 All materials participating in the competition are not returned to the authors, and no reviews are issued for them. 4.5 By sending materials to the competition, authors agree that they may be used free of charge in the further activities of the Organizers and Partners of the competition.

5. Determination of the best works 5.1 Criteria for evaluating works: - compliance with the theme of the competition; - creative approach; - relevance to current realities. The organizer of the competition may express its own opinion regarding preference in determining the winner. 5.2 To determine the winners of the competition, the Organizing Committee creates an independent jury. 5.3 The jury's decision is final and not subject to appeal.

6. Awarding of the winners of the competition 6.1 The winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes in each nomination: - best printed material 1st place – UAH 1,000 2nd place – UAH 650 3rd place – UAH 500 - best video series based on the results of initiatives 1st place – UAH 1,000 2nd place – UAH 650 3rd place – UAH 500 - best photo report from the scene 1st place – UAH 1,000 2nd place – UAH 650 3rd place – UAH 500 6.2 All participants of the competition will be awarded commemorative diplomas.

Contacts: Organizing Committee: Tel.: 8 062 337-63-16 e-mail: ngo.donetsk.ua@gmail.com

Coordinator: Denys Tkachenko