German broadcaster Deutsche Welle announced the launch of its fifth annual blogging competition, focusing on excellence in blogging, podcasting and videoblogging in 16 categories and in 11 languages, the European Journalism Centre (EJC) reported Monday.

Languages include Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Indonesian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Blog authors worldwide have until the end of September 2008 to nominate their blogs. Readers may also submit their preferred blogs, according to the EJC.

Between October 27 and November 27, users will have the chance to vote for their favourites. Winners are to be selected through Internet votes and a jury and are to be announced “at a public event” in Berlin on November 27, wrote the EJC.