The “SOT” platform is accepting submissions for the fifth round of its journalism competition, “100 SOT Against Hate Speech”, inviting Syrian and Arab journalists to contribute written pieces that explore the relationship between hate speech and transitional periods.

The contest is open to all forms of written journalism—including reports, investigative pieces, opinion articles, and studies—with a maximum word count of 3,000 words. Each participant may submit only one unpublished article, which must not have appeared in any media outlet, including social media platforms like Facebook.

The platform has listed several suggested themes for submissions, including:

• Transitional justice and hate speech: the boundaries between seeking truth, demanding accountability, and using language of retribution or rupture.
• How revenge rhetoric can be masked as demands for justice.
• Safeguarding transitional periods from becoming fertile ground for hate speech.
• “Forced forgiveness” as a tool for silencing victims’ narratives.
• How hate speech impedes the transition from war to peace.
• Analyzing the current Syrian media landscape and the role of ethical journalism in state-building.
• The roles of religious and political discourse in rebuilding identity during transitional phases—absent exclusionary narratives.

The competition features two prize categories:

Main Awards: open to all Arab nationals (including Syrians), as well as stateless individuals born to Syrian mothers and foreigners. Applicants are eligible regardless of professional experience or place of residence.

Winners will receive the following cash prizes:

• First place: €500
• Second place: €300
• Third place: €200

New Voices Awards: exclusively for Syrian nationals or those with equivalent legal status. This category targets media students (inside or outside Syria) and early-career journalists with three years or less of professional experience.

Winners in this category will receive:

• First place: €300
• Second place: €200
• Third place: €100

The competition was announced on June 18, marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, and submissions will be accepted until August 14.

SOT describes itself as an online platform that promotes inclusive Syrian narratives rooted in peace, justice, human rights, and diversity. The platform aims to counter hate speech by creating space for journalists—particularly women—to express themselves freely, beyond political or cultural agendas.

📎 More information available here.: Journalism Competition: 100 SOT Against Hate Speech – Fifth Round