Palawan News
By: Celeste Anna Formoso
Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. and Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC, Inc.), the company that controls over 90% of the Philippine cigarette market, has brought the seventh leg of the 11th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards roadshow in Palawan to search for the best agriculture news narratives and photo entries to the competition.
The Bright Leaf is on a five-month tour of 10 key cities and provinces to encourage agriculture journalists to submit entries to the competition which will award winners in November.
“We thought of Bright Leaf in order to encourage the media to write more about the issues, the challenges, and the opportunities that the agriculture industry faces. In so doing, we are hoping that lawmakers and the general population will be more educated on what is happening,” PMFTC, Inc. Director for External Affairs Bayen Elero-Tinga said.
Bright Leaf is a platform where best stories that have been aired in radio and television, and photographs, that have been fundamental in communicating agricultural issues, are recognized.
“We are on our 11th year, and every year, more and more media practitioners join the contest. We believe that this program has been successful in focusing the public’s attention on agriculture and its various issues,” Tinga stated.
This year, Bright Leaf is carrying the theme “A Tribute,” which recognizes the agriculture sector’s pivotal role in nation-building, through the journalists and their stories.
Some of the categories open for entries are Agriculture Story of the Year, Agriculture Photo of the Year, Tobacco Story of the Year, Best Agriculture News Story Regional, Best Agriculture Feature Story Regional, Best Television Program or Segment.
Since its launching in 2007, the Bright Leaf has become the premier competition for agriculture journalists all over the Philippines.
Guidelines for the agriculture journalism awards can be found at www.brightleafawards.com.