Print and broadcast journalists, photojournalists, newspaper, magazine, newsletters, and other institutions from both government and the private sector covering the agriculture, envoronment, agrarian reform, and countryside development beats are invited to participate. The PAJ-sponsored Binhi Awards is also open to all members of national and local publications.
Participants will vie for nine categories, namely Agricultural Journalist, Agribeat Reporter, Environment Journalists, Agricultural Magazine, Agricultural Newsletter, Agricultural Photojournalist, Agricultural Info/Media Campaign, and Agricultural Radio Program plus a special award for Environment Story.
PAJ president Roman Floresca said entries must fulfill the following requirements: For the Agricultural Journalist, Agribeat Reporter, and Environment Journalist of the Year categories, participants must submit original or photocopies and their electronic copies of at least 10 of their best stories published during the contest period, June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004.
The Special Award for Environment Story of the Year calls for one full-length story serialized or published as a whole within the said contest period.
The Agricultural Magazine and Agricultural Newsletter of the Year categories require participants to submit at least five sets of 11 issues (if monthly) or three issues (if quarterly) during the said contest period.
At least 10 photos (black and white or colored) with corresponding captions published during the contest period are required for participants vying for the Agricultural Photojournalist of the Year.
The Agricultural Info/Media Campaign of the Year category calls for at least one set each of information campaign paraphernalia (includes program rationale, objectives, implementation schedule, coverage, participants, etc.), accompanying poster, flyer, brochure, radio/TV jingle, program reviews and endorsements, impact study and monitoring report (if available), and other related documents launched and implemented during the contest period.
The Agricultural Radio Program of the Year category needs at least five seats of cassette tapes containing three best episodes as aired during the contest period.
Chairperson of the Binhi Awards committee, Dr. Norma V. Llemit of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCARRD-DOST), said members of the said committee are disqualified from competing in individual categories.
Entries should be sent to the PAJ c/o Department of Agriculture-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service (DA-AFIS), Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City and should be postmarked on or before July 30 for mailed entries.
For general guidelines and other details, please call PAJ c/o Da-AFIS at (02) 920-4080, (02) 928-8741 loc. 134 or send an e-mail to pajbingi@yahoo.com or nvmel@yahoo.com. — Arlene R. Obmerga, S&T Media Service