Another group has come forward to recognize the role of bloggers in raising public awareness on important issues.
Bloggers are now welcome to join the 5th PopDev Media Awards, a project of Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).
This is open to all Filipino bloggers who have blogged about any of the following issues: issues such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), public health (especially reproductive health), reproductive health policy and governance, economic growth and poverty, climate change, housing and urban development, sustainable development, environment, education, gender, maternal health, adolescent reproductive health, family planning, food security, reproductive rights, migration, and population ageing.
The topics are as broad as they can be and this is good news to bloggers.
For more information, please refer to the PLCPD’s press release below:
The PLCPD announces the inclusion of Special Categories in the 5th PopDev Media Awards. In keeping with the changing times, this year’s Awards will include Citations for Blog (Text) and Photo Blogs (Single Photo and Photo Essay) in recognition of the significant contribution of bloggers, or citizen journalists, in enriching the public discussion of population and human development concerns vis-à-vis socio-economic issues.
A nomination scheme has been set up to encourage more bloggers or citizen journalists to join. Parties interested in nominating someone they know should fill up a nomination form and send it along with at least three (3) representative articles that were posted between August 16, 2008 and August 15, 2009. Upon confirmation of nomination, nominees should then fill up an application form and send it along with his/her choice of at least three (3) representative entries.
Entries to the Citations for Blog (Text) and Photo Blogs (Single Photo and Photo Essay) should have been posted between August 16, 2008 and August 15, 2009. At least three (3) representative articles are required for the Citation for Blog (text) while for the Citation for Photo Blog-Photo Essay, at least five (5) to 10 photos are required.
Only entries from Filipinos and from sites originating from the Philippines will be accepted. The blog site should have also been in existence since at least January 1, 2008. Entries from professional journalists may also be considered as long as these were posted in their personal blogs.
The 5th PopDev Media Awards is open to all print, broadcast, online, photo, and citizen journalists nationwide. For this year, in the context of the approaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline on 2015, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 15th year celebration, and the upcoming 2010 elections, entries must be able to stress the importance of the MDGs and the ICPD as electoral issues that must be put in the public agenda.
Interested parties may send as many entries in a chosen category. Winners in the major categories will receive a cash prize, trophy, certificate, and a chance to participate in a study trip to a PLCPD project area in the Philippines.
For more information, interested journalists may visit the PopDev Media Awards webpage or contact the PLCPD secretariat at 925-1800 or 9266619.
Disclosure: I have accepted an invitation to be a judge in this contest.
Note: Trophy visual grabbed from CASA of Lexington.