The annual Bright Leaf Awards is inviting all agricultural journalists to join the prestigious competition.
The Bright Leaf Awards are given to the most outstanding and relevant agriculture stories in print, radio, and television. It also honors the most compelling photos that capture the essence of Tobacco farming and the agriculture industry. It acknowledges the efforts of the Filipino journalist to bring to the forefront the current issues, new best practices, safety issues, crop sustainability and many other subjects relevant to one of our country’s most important industries.
The Bright Leaf Awards was launched in 2007 by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI). It is today continued by PMFTC Inc. (PMFTC), the company created on February 25, 2010 through a business combination between Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) and Fortune Tobacco Corporation (FTC). As the market leader in the Philippine tobacco industry, PMFTC is committed to bringing much needed assistance and attention to the country’s agriculture sector.
The Bright Leaf started a caravan on March 27 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga where the awards team met with local media practitioners to discuss this year’s competition.
The Bright Leaf caravan’s next stop is Baguio City to reach even more potential agricultural journalists who want to join the awards.
From its humble roots in 2007, when Bright Leaf began with just 82 entries, Philip Morris now receives hundreds of submissions from hopeful writers and photographers who want to join the ranks of the best and the brightest that agricultural journalism has to offer.
The legacy of the Bright Leaf if exemplified in the Oriental Leaf Award, which is given to any journalist who has won five Bright Leaf Awards in any category, raising them up to the Bright Leaf Hall of Fame.
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 Agriculture Online Story
* New Category: 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 broadcasted anywhere in the Philippines between September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019.
The deadline for entries is September 1, 2019.
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 2019 Bright Leaf Awards ceremony in November and will be receiving cash prizes, iPads, and all-expense paid vacation to an Asian country.