Henry Ford Awards 2009 launched

MANILA, Philippines - The Ford Group Philippines (FGP) Henry Ford Awards (HFA), the country’s premier award-giving body for excellence in automotive journalism, kicks off its 2009 search for outstanding work in the field this month.

Now on its ninth year, the HFA is unparalleled in its efforts to recognize excellent automotive print, broadcast and on-line reportage and photography, awarding work not only specific to Ford and Mazda vehicles, but also those of other car manufacturers and the automotive industry in general.

Since its inception in 2001, the Henry Ford Awards has become one of the most anticipated automotive media events of the year. From a humble 50 entries in seven categories in its first year, the program has grown both in size and stature, receiving over 200 entries in 13 categories in 2008. Some 34 journalists have been recognized over the past eight years, and now occupy a place of honor in the HFA Hall of Fame.

Working Together to Drive History

The year 2009 has been a particularly challenging year for the automotive industry. Thanks to the vision of Ford Motor Company’s leadership, decisive action was taken long before the economic crisis hit, implementing a strategic plan to transition and reposition the business. This plan is also known as One Ford. As a result, the global Ford business is in a much better position today to weather economic challenges and emerge a stronger and more focused company. In fact, in the Philippines, FGP recorded its highest level of sales in June 2009 since March 2008, and remains cautiously optimistic for the rest of the year. Throughout this journey, Ford has been transparent in their staunch belief that theirs is a good story to tell – one filled with the rich history, a powerful vision, a challenging uphill climb, and a remarkable team that works together despite the odds, all of which would not have been possible without the integrity and professionalism of the automotive media.

“We recognize the key role that our friends in the automotive media have played and continue to play in growing our business in the Philippines. Alongside us, they have each built their careers with the ups and downs of the industry – their insights and voices have truly helped shape the landscape of the industry in the Philippines. Acknowledging this, we have chosen ‘Drive History’ as our theme for HFA 2009 to celebrate these individuals as well as our long-standing and continued partnership marked by a changing landscape that we all are experiencing today,” said Ford Group Philippines President Rick Baker.

For more information and to download official entry forms, visit the HFA site at www.ford.com.ph or contact the HFA Secretariat at 885-0001 local 105.