Index on Censorship today announces the shortlist for the 2009 Freedom of Expression Awards.
The awards, presented in association with the Economist, the Guardian, Bindmans and the Robert Gavron Trust, honour those who have furthered the cause of freedom of expression and battled censorship around the world.
Prizes are awarded in five categories: books, film, journalism, and law and campaigning.
Previous winners include Arat Dink, Anna Politkovskaya and Edward Said.
This year’s shortlist includes Sri Lanka’s Sunday Leader newspaper, Ma Jian’s novel Beijing Coma, and Steve McQueen’s film, Hunger.