SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The 16th Bright Leaf Agricultural Journalism Awards was officially launched on March 7 with former Congressman Jericho “Koko” Nograles as a guest speaker, marking the first time that the competition held a face to-face caravan after three years.
On this journey, the Bright Leaf caravan welcomed agricultural journalists from Bataan, Zambales, and Olongapo. The next caravan stop will be in Pampanga, said Corinne Renes, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) communication manager.
Since 2007, Bright Leaf has been able to exemplify the best and the brightest in Philippine agricultural journalism, becoming a beacon of hope and inspiration to agricultural journalists across the nation. By welcoming new and returning journalists to the Bright Leaf Awards caravan, PMFTC honors the labor of media reportage focusing on different facets of agriculture in the Philippines, Renes added.
For this season, Bright Leaf’s competition theme is “Harvesting Progress,” highlighting the new technologies that can improve the livelihoods of agricultural workers nationwide. Journalists nationwide are encouraged to submit entries to the following categories:
- Agriculture Story of the Year
- Agriculture Photo of the Year
- Tobacco Story of the Year
- Tobacco Photo of the Year
- Best Television Program or Segment
- Best Radio Program or Segment
- Best Agriculture News Story-National
- Best Agriculture News Story-Regional
- Best Agriculture Feature Story-National
- Best Agriculture Feature Story-Regional
- Best Online Story
- Best Story in Novel Tobacco Products
There is no entry fee in joining the competition. Journalists and photographers may submit as many entries for consideration. However, an entry may not be submitted in more than one category. Entries should be published, aired, or broadcast anywhere in the Philippines between March 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
The deadline for sending entries is on Sept. 1, 2023.
Entries may be in English or any of the Philippine languages. For entries that are not in English, participants will need to submit an English translation. Winners will be announced during the 2023 Bright Leaf Awards ceremony later this year.
The 16th Bright Leaf Awards hopes to plant new seeds and reap the best in agricultural journalism in the country.