Submit entries on environmental contest - Ministry

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The National Environmental Awards Committee on Wednesday called for the submission of entries for the 2004 Environmental Reporting Contest (ERC) for journalists and non-governmental organisation (NGOs).

A statement signed by the Environment and Science Minister Christine Churcher said the categories for the contest included the best Environmental Reporter for the print, best in radio and television with each category having its first and second runners up. An overall Environmental Journalist of the year from among the three best winners from both categories would be selected as the ultimate winner.

The statement said the contest under the auspices of the Ministry would be held together with the Best Environmental NGO and Outstanding Environmental Personality of the year. According to the statement the criteria for assessment for the ERC would include style; content; relevance; source; clarity of information; theme; creativity and impact.

Winners in each category would receive five million cedis and other prize items while the overall best would take home 10 million cedis. The Ministry has, therefore, urged interested journalists to submit two-feature articles with by-lines for print and audio/visuals cassettes recording and two printed transcripts of same recording. The statement said features, programmes or reports must have been published or broadcast between July 1, 2004 to July to 4, 2005 adding that newspapers magazines, radio and television that published or broadcast the winning articles would be presented with certificates. It said that for the Environment Personality Contest (EPC) and that of the Best NGO entries would be accepted only from heads of recognised institutions on what had been done to contribute significantly to the promotion of the environment in Ghana from July 1, 2004 to July 2005 and that individuals or self-nominations for individual outstanding contest would not be entertained.

Closing date for entries is September 24, 2005, while the date for the awards night would be announced later, the statement said. It said entries should be sent to the Awards committee, c/o the Public Affairs Department Room 10 of the Sector Ministry or P.O. Box M. 232, Accra.

The contest instituted in 2002 in recognition of the vital role the media played in awareness creation on issues of the environment was also meant to be a vehicle to cultivate and motivate journalists and media practitioners to put emphasis on the promotion of sound environmental management for sustainable development.