The National Union of Journalists in Scotland is to sponsor an award for journalists writing about domestic violence issues.

NUJ Scotland has announced the partnership with the Write to End Violence Against Women Awards.

The NUJ has been supporting the awards since their launch and this year, the fifth that they have been run, will be sponsoring the ‘Best Article – News’ category.

The awards are organised by charity Zero Tolerance.

NUJ Scotland said in a statement: “Even apart from recent and current events, its prevalence in society makes it a ‘hot topic’ for reporters and its complex nature makes it an interesting issue for feature writers.

“However, the fact that violence against women is so complex can mean that even journalists with the best of intentions can misrepresent some of the issues and perpetuate myths that are harmful to women.

“On the other hand, good reporting can play a vital role in increasing understanding of violence against women and challenging its place in our society. And many journalists and bloggers produce high quality work which confronts violence and gender inequality.

“The NUJ agrees with the award event organisers, Zero Tolerance, that the hard work of journalists and bloggers deserves to be recognised. And since the launch of the awards, they have succeeded in improving standards in journalism by rewarding those committed to furthering the cause of gender equality through their work.”

Earlier this year Zero Tolerance and Scottish Women’s Aid created a series of stock photos for journalists to use in a bid to dispel misconceptions about domestic abuse.