TARLAC CITY—The 11th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Award recently held its second roadshow here in search of the best agriculture stories and photographs in the country for 2017.
Didet Dangulian-Santiago, communication manager of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc., which is sponsoring the awards, said: “As one of the pioneer award-giving bodies in agriculture journalism, we will continue to honor and give due recognition to journalists and photographers who are the people behind the stories that pay tribute to the struggles and successes of our country’s farmers and other producers.
“They are the brave couriers who bring to public attention the importance of agriculture.”
With this year’s theme “A Tribute,” Bright Leaf recognizes the agricultural sector’s pivotal role in nation-building, through the journalists and their stories, Santiago stressed.
The Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards aims to support agriculture and honor Filipino journalists by giving recognition to outstanding work in media that promotes the development of, and creates awareness on issues relating to Philippine agriculture, Santiago disclosed.
Initiated by PMFTC Inc., the Bright Leaf caravan will embark on a five-month nationwide swing, stopping over at 10 key cities and provinces the invite agriculture journalist to submit entries to the competition, which will culminate with the awarding ceremonies in November.
Media practitioners in print, radio, and TV based in Nueva Ecija attended the roadshow. This is the first time Bright Leaf came to the province and the journalists were excited to learn about the competition. During the roadshow, details of the awards were discussed.
Bright Leaf invites journalists nationwide to submit entries to the following categories: 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 Agriculture News Story National; Best Agriculture News Story Regional; Best Agriculture Feature Story National; and Best Agriculture Feature Story Regional.
Since its launch in 2007, the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards has become the premier competition for agriculture journalists all over the Philippines. For the past 10 years, print, TV, radio and photo journalists have actively and eagerly participated in this competition to find out who will be chosen as the creme of the crop.
Journalists or photographers may submit several entries for consideration, but only one entry may be submitted per category. Entry is free.
All entries should have been published, aired, or broadcast between Sept. 1, 2016 and Aug. 31, 2017. An entry may be written in English, or in any Philippine dialect (with attachment of an English translation). Deadline for submission is on Sept. 1, 2017.
Winners will be receiving cash prizes, premium items, and an all-expense-paid trip to an Asian country to be announced later.
This year’s Bright Leaf competition was launched on April 19 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, a fitting recognition to the province being known as the rice granary of the Philippines and a major food basket source.
For this year’s Bright Leaf, the team will visit new cities and provinces that have not been reached yet in the past 10 years.