ZAMBOANGA CITY-The Bright Leaf caravan visited the city for the first time on Tuesday to encourage local media practitioners to join this year’s 12th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards.

The caravan is part of the Mindanao leg activity following the series of roadshows in Luzon and the Visayas areas.

“As one of the pioneer award-giving bodies in agriculture journalism, Bright Leaf continues to honor and give due recognition to journalists and photographers, who bring to public attention the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives,” said Bayen Elero-Tinga, Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco Corporation PMFTC external affairs director.

Tinga said that as an agricultural company, PMFTC envisions the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Award as a way of honoring the most important and outstanding agriculture news stories.

Launched 12 years ago, the award focuses on news that were able to raise the discourse of critical agriculture issues, and celebrating the best photographs that captured the spirit of the Philippine agriculture in a single frame.

This year’s competition is anchored on the theme “12 Years of Bounty for 2018.” It is open to journalists nationwide.

Didet Danguilan-Santiago, PMFTC communications manager, said agriculture stories, photos, television and radio programs or segments aired or public between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2018 can be submitted in the competition.

The deadline for submission of entries is on September 1, 2018.

The entries to be submitted must be in accordance with the following categories: Agriculture Story of the Year; Tobacco Story of the Year; Agriculture Photo of the Year; Tobacco Photo of the year; Best TV Program of Segment; Best Radio Program or Segment; Best Agriculture News Story (National and Regional); Best Agriculture Feature Story (National and Regional); and Best Online Story.

Santiago said this is the first time that the Best Online Story has been included among the categories. This special award will be given to the best agriculture news or feature story that is published on an online news article.

The entries can be submitted to their website and by courier (Bright Leaf Awards 2018, Juicebox Shop Inc., Unit 2F Phoenix Heights Condominium, 40 Henry Javier Street corner Danny Flooro Street, Pasig City, 1600). (PNA)