The 8th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards is open for entries, aiming to recognize the best in agricultural media.

The annual awards are given to most outstanding agriculture stories in print, radio, and television. This year, the awards will honor the most compelling photos that capture the essence of tobacco farming and agriculture industry.

Didet Danguilan, Bright Leaf Awards project head, said Filipino journalists can join the competition as their way of sharing the successes of farmers through their stories, in whatever medium, to the public.

Categories for the awards are: Agriculture Story of the Year, Agriculture Photo of the Year, Tobacco Story of the Year, Tobacco Photo of the Year, Best Television Program or Segment, Best Radio Program or Segment, Best National News Story, Best Regional News Story, Best National Feature Story, Best Regional Feature News Story and Oriental Leaf Award.

The Oriental Leaf Award is given to those who have won a Bright Leaf Award in any category for five consecutive years and have become part of a group of individuals that comprise the Bright Leaf Hall of Fame.

“We want to highlight the stories that enlighten and inspire our countrymen. This is even more important because of the recent typhoons and earthquakes that have greatly impacted the agriculture industry.” Danguilan said. “This is one way to provide some light in what was a dark time for the Filipino farmer.”

This year, the competition aims to reach out to more tri-media practitioners from the provinces. Participation in The Bright Leaf Awards is free. Entries must be published, aired or broadcast between Sept. 1, 2013 and Aug. 31, 2014.