The 2011 W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography is now open for entries. The deadline for the receipt of applications is May 31, 2011. Photographers interested in applying may obtain guidelines at the W. Eugene Smith Fund website. For 2011, the amount of the grant will be $30,000. An additional $5,000 in fellowship money will be dispersed, at the discretion of the jury, to one or more finalists deemed worthy of special recognition. Grants will be presented in a ceremony held in New York City in October. The W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography was established in 1979 following the death of Gene Smith, the legendary American photo essayist. Today, the grant represents the most prestigious honor in the field of documentary photography. The Judging: Every year, the fund's board of trustees appoints a three-member international jury to recognize a photographer who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to documenting the…

World Press Photo held its first multimedia contest this year. They worked with a nominating committee to identify exceptional projects, and then invited the creators of those projects to submit their pieces for judging. The jury consisted of Claudine Boeglin (Thomson Reuters Foundation), Andrew DeVigal (The New York Times), Kang Kyung-ran (Frontline News Service), and Gideon Mendel (photographer), and Jury Chair, Ed Kashi (photojournalist/filmmaker). Projects were shortlisted in two categories: Linear Productions, and Interactive Productions. Finalists were selected from over 40 nominations. Winners will be announced during the World Press Photo Awards Ceremony on May 7, 2011. The shortlisted Finalists are: Blanco, by Stefano De Luigi and VII Photo Agency The Home Front, photographed by Marcus Yam and produced by Nancy Donaldson, Catrin Einhorn and Meaghan Looram for The New York Times A Man in the Forest, by Lei Wang Powering a Nation, photographed by Mike Ehrlich, Jessey Dearing, Lauren Frohne and…