Entries for Binhi Awards now accepted

The Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc, (PAJ) is now accepting entries for the 2000-2002 Binhi Awards – a contest among print and broadcast journalists in agriculture, environment, agrarian reform and countryside development.

PAJ president Roman F. Floresca, assistant Business and Agriculture editor of The Philippine STAR, said the Binhi Awards features eight categories: Agricultural Journalist of the Year in English, Agricultural Journalist of the Year in Filipino, Agri-beat Reporter, Agri Photojournalist Agri Magazine, Agri Newsletter, Agri Information/Media Campaign, and Agri Radio Program.

The PAJ in cooperation with institutional and corporate sponsors will provide over P200,000 in cash prizes and trophies to this year’s Binhi Awardees. The 1st and 2nd 3rd place winners of the three major categories – agri journalist in English/Filipino, and agribeat reporter – will each receive cash prizes of P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively, including a Binhi Award trophy. Winners of other categories will each receive P10,000 cash and trophy.

The contest covers published articles, photos, magazines and newsletters, info/media campaigns launched, and radio programs aired from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. PAJ Binhi Awards committee chairman Noel Reyes said contestants for respective categories are required to submit the following:

• Agri journalist in English/Filipino, agribeat reporter, and photo journalist – minimum of 10 original copies of published articles or photos;

• Agri magazine/newsletter – six sets of published issues from July 2001 o June 30, 2002;

• Info/Media campaign – six sets of campaign program, peripherals (posters, radio/TV ad, etc), and preferably campaign results review;

• Radio program – four sets of cassette tapes of program as aired.

Contestants need not pay entry fees. All they have to do is send entries to: The PAJ Binhi Awards Committee c/o Department of Agriculture-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service, ground floor, DA Main Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, tel. Nos. 920-4080, 928-0588 or 928-8741 local 134.

Deadline for the submission of entries is on July 15, 2002. Winners will be announced during the 26th PAJ anniversary celebration on Sept. 14, 2002, at the National Press Club, Intramuros, Manila.