Singapore Environment Council launches journalism awards

Tan Weizhen Today Online 16 Jan 12;

SINGAPORE - The search is on for the best environmental journalists in Asia. The inaugural Asian Environmental Journalism Awards, launched yesterday by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), is looking for winners in three categories.

These are the Coca-Cola Environmental Story of the Year, the City Developments Limited Environmental Journalist of the Year and Excellence in Environmental Reporting by a media organisation.

For the story of the year, the team of judges are looking for professional or citizen journalists who displayed outstanding journalistic qualities in covering an environmental issue here or in the region.

The journalist of the year should have produced an "outstanding body" of at least five environmental stories from last September to this June.

For the third award, the media organisation should have a consistently high performance in covering environmental issues in Asia.

The eight judges include former National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah.

SEC executive director Jose Raymond, a former journalist, said: "The SEC is proud to take the lead in organising the Asian Environmental Journalism Awards and in championing the effort to promote exceptional environmental journalism."

Winners of the first two categories will receive S$3,000 and a trophy each. The winning media organisation will receive a trophy. Applications open today and close on June 30. Interested parties can visit www.sec.org.sg/asianjournalism. Tan Wei Zhen

SEC launches environmental journalism awards
Channel NewsAsia 16 Jan 12;

SINGAPORE: The search is on for green journalists and media organisations in Singapore.

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) launched the inaugural Asian Environmental Journalism Awards on Monday, with the aim of honouring outstanding works of environmental journalism by professional, citizen journalists and media organisations.

Applications for the awards close on June 30.

Interested journalists and media organisations can visit www.sec.org.sg/awards/asianjournalism for application guidelines and details.

An eight-member judging panel, helmed by former national development minister Mah Bow Tan, will decide the winners.

SEC said the Coca-Cola Environmental Story of the Year recognises professional or citizen journalists who have displayed outstanding journalistic qualities in covering an environmental issue in Singapore or in the region.

The CDL Environmental Journalist of the Year recognises professional or citizen journalists who have contributed at least five environmental articles from September 1, 2011 to June 1, 2012.

The SEC will also give out the Excellence in Environmental Reporting Award to a media organisation for consistently high performance in covering environmental issues in Asia.

Winners of the first two awards will receive S$3,000 and a trophy, while the winning media organisation will receive a trophy.

The winners will be announced on July 27.

- CNA/cc