Binhi Awards submissions end

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ) reminds contestants to submit their entries to the 2015 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards, on or before Dec. 31.

A yearly national contest conducted by the PAJ and San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the Binhi Awards recognizes the continuing efforts of print and broadcast journalists who churn out quality reportage on the developments and issues in the country’s agriculture, fisheries, environment, agrarian reform, food and agribusiness sectors.

This year’s contest features 14 individual and institutional categories, with cash prizes totaling P500,000, said PAJ president Roman Floresca, and former business editor of The Philippine STAR.

“We sincerely thank SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang for their continuing support to the PAJ, as we jointly raise the bar of coverage and reportage of the country’s agricultural developments and major industry issues, including success stories of farmers, fishers, livestock raisers, food manufacturers, and agribusinessmen,” said Floresca.

“Through the years, SMC has had the privilege to support and partner with the PAJ. We hope to encourage more journalists to write more inspiring stories on the Philippine countryside. We believe this agricultural journalism contest is an effective program that supports the empowerment of farmers, fishers, rural entrepreneurs and the agribusiness sector, in general,” Ang said.

SMC Media Affairs Group head Mary Jane Oconer Llanes and Floresca formalized the agreement to conduct the 2105 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards on Nov. 4, witnessed by PAJ officers.

This year’s three major individual categories are agricultural journalist, agribeat reporter and environment journalist of the year, said Noel Reyes, PAJ vice president and contest chairman. The top three winners for each category will receive P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 cash and a trophy, respectively.

The other individual and institutional categories are: agri news story, agri feature story, environment story, agri photo journalist, agri section of a national newspaper, agri section of a regional or provincial newspaper, agri magazine, agri newsletter, agri TV program, agri radio program, and agri info and/or media campaign. Winners will each receive P20,000 cash and a trophy, said Reyes, who formerly headed the Department of Agriculture’s information service.

Contestants should submit entries published, broadcast, and/or implemented from Nov. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015. The requirements for each category are:

• Agricultural journalist, agribeat reporter, and environment journalist – original published clippings or photocopies of at least 10 best articles, with corresponding newspaper/publication masthead, date, and byline or tagline; and e-copy (word format) of each article;

• Agri news story, agri feature story, and environment story – original published clipping or photocopy with publication masthead, date, and byline or tagline; and e-copy (word format) of the story;

• Agri photo journalist – five sets of original or photocopies of at least 10 published B/W or colored photos with caption, corresponding newspaper/publication masthead, date, and photo credit or certification that said photo was taken by the contestant;

• Agri section of a national newspaper and agri section of a regional or provincial newspaper – five sets of published original or photocopies of 10 best agri section or page;

• Agri magazine and newsletter – five sets of 12 issues (if monthly) or four issues (if quarterly), and letter of endorsement from the publisher or head of agency;

• Agri info/media campaign – five sets of info/media campaign paraphernalia (program brief, posters, flyer, brochure, radio/TV ad, and preferably campaign results review), and their respective e-copy in dvd disk; and

• Agri TV and radio program – five sets of DVD (for TV) or CD (for radio) disks of at least five best episodes, with corresponding printed scripts or e-copy, and certificate of broadcast.

Each entry should be accompanied with a nomination letter, endorsed by the contestant’s editor or head of office, and submitted on or before Dec. 31, to the 2015 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards Committee, at the PAJ office c/o Filipino Inventors Society Producer Cooperative (FISPC), ground floor near Pizza Hut, Delta Bldg., West Ave. corner Quezon Ave., Quezon City; or at the DA Press Office, ground floor, DA-OSEC main building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, QC, c/o Solita Onquit.

For inquiries, call or text: 2015 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards Committee, 0920-4889686; or email – [email protected] or [email protected]. No entry fees are required. However, non-PAJ members are enjoined to apply and pay P200 for their 2015-16 membership and annual fee.