Award regulations for the Erich Loest Prize of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig
- The Erich Loest Prize of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig is awarded preferentially to writers from Central German region.
- The Erich Loest Prize will be awarded for the first time in 2017, and then every two years. It carries a cash prize of €10,000. The award ceremony usually takes place on 24 February of each award year at the Villa Ida Media Campus (Poetenweg 28, 04155 Leipzig).
- The Erich Loest Prize is not open for entries. The selection of the laureate is made exclusively by the jury. Each member of the jury may submit one nomination. The nomination should be submitted in writing and briefly explained by a pre-arranged date before the respective award ceremony. Nominations can refer to a current publication from a maximum of three years prior to the award ceremony or to a complete work. The content of the nominations should reflect the spirit of the work and the upright stance of Erich Loest: an enlightened and, through narrative analysis of the past, forward-looking position in defense of freedom of opinion, conscience, and individual freedom against political and social repression, as well as in remembrance of the excesses of the two totalitarian systems in Germany, which Erich Loest both experienced and impressively described.
- A proper main election is deemed to have taken place if at least two-thirds of the jury members are present in person. In the main election, each jury member has one vote. Transfer of votes is possible. Each jury member may transfer a maximum of one vote. The jury's decision is made by a simple majority and is final. Legal recourse is excluded.
- Jury meetings are convened by the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig. They take place in Leipzig, are private, and confidential.