APFEJ Announces 2009 Asia-pacific Environmental Journalism Awards
- For Stories in local Media Jan - Dec 2008 -
- Last Date : August 31, 2009 -

The Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists(APFEJ) is currently accepting entries for the 2009 Asia-Pacific Awards for Excellence in Environmental Journalism. An APFEJ initiative, the awards "recognize the efforts of journalists working on environmental issues and to encourage environmental journalism across the region."

Interested journalists are asked to submit stories that were published in local media between 1 January and 31 December 2008. Submissions can cover or address "any aspect of the environment" in the region or the applicant's country.

This work can include scientific research and findings, protected areas, climate change, ecotourism, conservation, sustainable development, eco-friendly alternative products and fuels, environmental education, environmental political issues, threats to the environment, mining, logging, oil extraction and other forms of exploitation of natural resources and social issues related to the environment.

The contest was first introduced in 1990 to promote high quality coverage of environmental issues and acknowledge the work of communication professionals in that field.

APFEJ, the oldest and largest organization of professional environmental journalists, contacts over 12,000 members around the world. From 12 members at its establishment in 1988, APFEJ has grown to encompass 154 members - of which 42 are from within the Asia and Pacific region and 112 outside. The mission of APFEJ to build into a strong, independent and committed to promote excellence in environmental journalism worldwide by supporting environmental journalists specially Asia pacific through Professionalism, Freedom of expression, Social responsibility, environmental justice, Networking and training.

Entries (including photocopies) must be submitted in the surface mail by August 31,2009 and sent to
Dharman Wickremaratne,
Director,
Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists(APFEJ),
P.O.Box 26,
434/3 Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka.
E-mail: [email protected]

Applicants must also include their full name, address, phone /fax/ email contact numbers, dates of publication, and names of newspapers/magazines. Print, electronic and on-line all journalists and photographers, full time or freelance, can take part in the contest.They should be residents of the Asia-Pacific region and work in or with the local or national media.

There are no entry fees of any kind for submissions. More details on the awards can be viewed on
http://www.environmentaljournalists.org web site.

Six sub-regional winners will also be announced, recognizing quality environmental coverage in Central Asia, East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, West Asia and the Pacific.

Regional winners will receive certificates, three-year membership to APFEJ and a fully-paid trip to 18th World Congress of Environmental Journalists held in Colombo- Sri Lanka from 19- 22, October 2009. They will have an opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the world to share experiences and examine important issues related to environmental reporting.

The congress is an opportunity for the selected journalists to further discuss on the above-mentioned subjects and develop better stories in future.

The awards, along with certificates will be presented to the winners on October 19,2009 in a special ceremony. The APFEJ will host the congress, which it has called "2009 most important event yet for environmental journalism in Asia -pacific". The congress, which will involve more than 100 participants from nearly 50 countries, will focus on "Educate to end Climate poverty" reports APFEJ.

The previous awards have been sponsored by the UNEP,ADB and German FNS, in order to encourage and recognize outstanding achievements in environmental journalism. Some of the previous winners include, Mukul Sharma ­ India, Alex Pal ­Philippines, Abu Taher Khokon ­ Bangladesh, Joe Kanekane ­ Papua New Guina, Zamira Loebis -Indonesia and Tan Cheng Li of Malaysia.

To find out more about the 18th World Congress of Environmental Journalists or APFEJ different activities it has been involved into for more than twenty years, please visit
http://www.environmentaljournalists.org