Print journalists invited to join in 3rd PopDev Media Awards

In cognizance of their exemplary efforts, the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. and the United Nation’s Population Fund invited print journalists to once again join in the 3rd Annual Population Development Media Awards.

Print journalists who have articles featuring population and development issues published from October 1, 2006 are invited to participate in said Awards.

The search, which is open to all print journalists in the country, will give away cash prizes, trophies and study trip to the project area of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities in the country.

The PopDev awards, which started in 2005, had chosen only three winners all over the country for that year. The following year, eight winners had been chosen from over 200 participants nationwide.

Most entries submitted in the previous years that were centered on population and development issues were on population and education, population and health services; population, economic growth and poverty; reproductive health and rights; family planning, and population, reproductive health policy and governance.

The PopDev awards aim to give recognition to print and other mass media practitioners who have been instrumental in disseminating relevant information and positive values on population and development.

National and regional journalists can now be given the chance to compete for the following categories - Best in Investigative Reporting, Best in Reportage, and Best in Opinion/Editorial Writing. Thus, there will be a total of 12 awardees.

To qualify, written works must have been published from October 1, 2006 and must feature population and development issues, including population and education, population and health services, family planning, migration and reproductive health and rights. Application forms and further details may be obtained at www.plcpdfound.org.

Deadline for submission of entries is on August 31. Entries per region (Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) will undergo preliminary screening, and there will be separate screening committees per region.

Three citations under a specialized category will also be given to stories published online or through wire agencies. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV