The Polish Press Agency (PAP) has launched the Ryszard Kapuścinski Memorial Award, to be given every year to press, radio and television journalists for reports of outstanding merit.

The work should be characterized by unbiased approach, reliability and inquisitiveness. The first recipients of the award will be announced in March 2011.

The launch of the Kapuscinski Award, named after the prominent Polish reporter whose books have been translated into over 30 languages, comes several weeks after the publication of his new, controversial biography. In the book, entitled Kapuścinski Non-Fiction, Artur Domoslawski writes about Kapuściński’s tendency to blur the line between factual reporting and literary creation, his contacts with the secret police under communism and his love affairs.

The book caused a stir in Poland. Kapuścinski’s widow tried, unsuccessfully, to prevent its publication.

Ryszard Kapuściński (1937-2007) won international reputation with such books as The Emperor, The Shah of Shahs, The Soccer War, The Shadow of the Sun, and Travels with Herodotus. (mk)