PopDev Media Awards to cite Bloggers

For the last two years, I’ve been invited by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) to be in the panel of judges for their annual PopDev Media Awards. This year, they’ve decided to add a special citation for citizen journalists (bloggers).

This year’s awards will include Citations for Blog (text) and Photo Blogs (Single Photo and Photo Essay) in recognition of the significant contribution of bloggers, or citizen journalists, in enriching the public discussion of population and human development concerns vis-à-vis socio-economic issues.

Click here for bigger version of the poster.

The 5th PopDev Media Awards is open to all print, broadcast, online, photo, and citizen journalists nationwide and covers topics on public health, reproduction, climate change, poverty, education, housing and urban development.

Winners in the major categories will receive a cash prize, trophy, certificate, and a chance to participate in a study trip to a PLCPD project area in the Philippines.

We had some pretty interesting discussion during the last roundtable of judges between the criteria on “form vs. substance”. It was an easy debate when it comes to professional journalists but is different when you bring in bloggers to the list.