San Miguel Corp. once again partnered with the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. to stage the 2018 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards, the country’s most prestigious agricultural journalism contest.
This year Binhi Awards will honor not only the outstanding agricultural, environment and agri-beat journalists, but also those who have written stories on water sustainability and self-sustaining “farm-to-table” communities that mirror SMC’s thrust of finding sustainable ways to enable marginalized sectors, including small farmers and fishermen, to participate in, and contribute to growth, thus making their communities “a better world to live in.”
PAJ President and former Philippine Star business editor Roman Floresca thanked SMC President and COO Ramon S. Ang for his continuing support to the Binhi Awards that was first launched in 1978 to raise the bar of reportage of the country’s agricultural developments and breakthroughs.
“SMC has had the privilege to support and partner with the PAJ through the years, as we continue to encourage more journalists to write more inspiring stories on the Philippine countryside that herald the triumphs of farmers, fishers, rural entrepreneurs and the agribusiness sector,” Ang said.
“This year, we thought of putting more weight on stories that highlight successful partnerships of farmers, local leaders and the private sector to implement sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural projects, aimed at making their communities a better world to live in,” added SMC Media Affairs Group Head Mary Jane Oconer Llanes.
This year, contestants will vie for 17 individual and institutional categories. Winners will receive cash prizes, ranging from P15,000 to P50,000, said contest Chairman Noel Reyes, PAJ vice president for internal affairs.
The 2018 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards features three major categories: agricultural journalist, agri-beat reporter and environment journalist, where the first, second and third-place winners will receive P50,000, P25,000 and P15,000 cash prizes, respectively. Contestants should submit at least 10 of their best stories published during the 12-month period, from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018.
Others may vie for minor categories, namely, agri news story, agri feature story, environment story, climate-change story; agri-photo journalist; agri section of a national and regional or provincial newspaper; agri magazine; agri newsletter; national and regional agri radio program; national and regional agri TV program; and agri info and/or media campaign of government or private sector agency.
Only one winner will be chosen for each of the 12 categories, who will receive P15,000 cash and trophy.
All contest entries should be submitted on or before November 29.
No entry fees are required. Non-PAJ members are enjoined to apply and pay P200 for the PAJ membership and annual fee for 2018-2019 through PAJ Secretary Ruby Lumongsod, 0906-3007008 or 3764790; e-mail: marubylumongsod@yahoo.com.
For contest requirements and details, kindly text or call Noel Reyes at 0920-4889686 (Smart) or 0916-7084688 (Globe), or e-mail him at norunibest@yahoo.com.