Bright Leaf Journalism Awards Now Accepting Entries

Now on its 10th year, the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards is again accepting agriculture stories, photos, and broadcast reports from media practitioners all over the country to seek the best and most relevant agriculture reports.

This was bared during a Bright Lead roadshow held on March 8 at Star Plaza in Dagupan City to encourage media people in the Pangasinan to participate in this tilt.

According to its website, the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards, launched in 2007 by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI), is continued today by PMFTC Inc.(PMFTC), the company created through a business combination between Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) and Fortune Tobacco Corporation (FTC).

Didet Danguilan,communications manager of PMFTC, said, “Our company saw the need to recognize or cite stories in the provinces, in the regions about the agriculture sector as well the developments and initiatives to highlight and raise the profile of agriculture industry.”

She added that there are many relevant stories in the field of agriculture that have to reported, and journalists and broadcasters behind such stories have to be cited.

The Bright Leaf, Danguilan said, was their way to support the agriculture industry by making the people know of the agriculture concerns and developments in different localities.

“Many Philippine industries have agriculture as their backbone and what propels our country’s economic growth is agriculture,” she added.

One of the most unforgettable entries in the past was the story of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Gabriel Cardinoza on the carabaos coming to extinction, Danguilan recalled.

Danguilan noted that entries will be accepted until September 1, 2016. Entries have to be published from Sept. 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016.

The categories for the Bright Leaf Awards are the following: Agriculture Story of the Year; Agriculture Photo of the Year; Tobacco Story of the Year; Tobacco Photo of the Year; Best Agriculture Television Program or Segment; Best Agriculture Radio Program or Segment; Best Agriculture News Story-National; Best Agriculture News Story-Regional; Best Agriculture Feature Story-National; Best Agriculture Feature Story-Regional; and the Oriental Leaf Award.

The Oriental Leaf Award is a special award given to those who have won a Bright Leaf Award in any category for five consecutive years. The Oriental Leaf Awardees become part of an elite group of individuals that comprise the Bright Leaf Hall of Fame.

Cash prize, gadgets, and Asian trip await the top winners.

“We’re planning so many things and we promise a really good awards night; and for the Asian trip, we’re planning something bigger this year,” said Danguilan. (PNA) LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA