MBFI starts search for 2015 Journalists of the Year

MANILA, Philippines - The Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) and Probe Media Foundation Inc. (PMFI) have announced the opening of nominations for the 2015 Metrobank Foundation Search for Journalists of the Year (JOY).

Qualified journalists must be Filipino citizens currently residing in the country and must have been working in the media industry for at least 10 years or from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2014.

Nominees must be engaged in print, radio, television or online journalism, a primary source of their income.

The JOY search is an open-nomination process. Nominators must be of legal age and should not be related to the nominee.

Nominating individuals and organizations should secure the signature of the nominated journalist. Self-nomination is allowed among journalists with endorsement from his or her immediate supervisor.

Nominees/nominators must submit five of his or her best stories for review and evaluation of the Screening Committee.

The stories for review must have been published or broadcast within Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2014 by a bona fide media organization or news outlet.

Two of the five works must have been done within the last two years. These can be in any medium, format, length, language and theme.

Deadline for submission of nomination and materials is on April 30.

The search will recognize three journalists as paragons of their profession and the media industry. Each will receive P300,000 cash prize and a medal.

The winners will become part of Metrobank Foundation Fellowship in Journalism and be conferred with the title “Metrobank Foundation Fellows in Journalism.”

They will share their expertise and experience through professional lectures for students, academic professionals and media practitioners nationwide.

The program will highlight the journalists’ contributions to the industry and society and give the public a chance to learn from these individuals.

Now on its second year, the JOY search recognizes excellence in Philippine journalism.

It celebrates and honors Filipino journalists from print, television, radio and online media whose stories have contributed to the development of the nation and influenced and inspired their colleagues and the media industry over the years.

The first journalists recognized by MBFI in 2001, and then known as the Search for Outstanding Journalists, were Sheila Coronel, Jessica Soho and the late Armando Malay.

In 2013, it was re-launched to become the Search for JOY with Malou Mangahas, Jarius Bondoc and Jiggy Manicad as awardees.

For more information, contact Probe Media Foundation, Inc. at 433-0456 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/2015JOY, www.mbfoundation.org.ph or www.probefound.com.