Rice planting is a back-breaking work that also exposes farmers to diseases and other hazards, according to an agriculture expert. (Philippine Daily Inquirer/EDWIN BACASMAS)
Agricultural company PMFTC Inc. has launched the 12th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards in Central Luzon, the country’s rice granary.
The Bright Leaf is PMFTC’s way of honoring the most important and outstanding agricultural news stories that were able to raise the discourse of critical agriculture issues, and celebrating the best photographs that captured the spirit of Philippine agriculture in a single frame.
“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 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 messengers, who bring to public attention the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives,” said PMFTC External Affairs Director Bayen Elero-Tinga.
On its 12th year, the Bright Leaf is once again looking towards a bountiful harvest of excellent stories, photos, TV, and radio segments
This year’s Bright Leaf competition introduced a new and special category – the Best Online Story, which will be awarded to the best agriculture news or feature story published in an online news website.
The addition of this new award category is in keeping with the current trend of readers getting their information speedily in the digital space.
The launch of the 12th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards took place at the Bistro Maloleno in Malolos, Bulacan, and was well-attended by Bulacan-based journalists from print and broadcast news agencies.
In the last 12 years, the Bright Leaf Awards has truly built a legacy of being the premier agriculture journalism competition in the country. From only 82 entries in its first year, Bright Leaf now reaps hundreds of entries as judges search for the best exemplars of agricultural journalism in 2018.
With the theme 12 Years of Bounty for the season, Bright Leaf will award journalists nationwide who will 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
- Best Agriculture Feature Story-Regional
- Best Online Story
After the Malolos launch, Bright Leaf will be visiting key cities across the Philippines to engage media practitioners and invite them to join the Bright Leaf Awards.
Those who wish to join must submit entries that were published, aired, or broadcast between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2018.
Entries may be in English or any of the Philippine languages. However, for entries that are not in English, participants will need to submit an English translation.
There is no entry fee in joining the competition. Journalists and photographers may submit as many entries for consideration. But an entry may not be submitted in more than one category.
The deadline for submission of entries is on September 1, 2018.
Winners will be announced during the 2018 Bright Leaf Awards ceremony in November, and will be receiving cash prizes, iPads, and an all-expense-paid trip to an Asian country.
For more information, contact the Bright Leaf Secretariat through their mobile numbers (0945) 477 2035 or (0929) 195 0620, and landline (02) 9755236; or email address: secretariat@brightleafawards.com; or reach them by visiting the Bright Leaf website at www.brightleafawards.com, or its Facebook page www.facebook.com/brightleafawards/. Len Montano, Radyo Inquirer