1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards

The 1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards, which
honor outstanding reporting/writing on the MDGs in print, radio and TV
accept entries in English and in the local languages.

The 1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards
is open to all radio and TV producers/journalis ts from
public service broadcasting organizations, private networks and
free-lance producers covering the Asia and the Pacific. For the print
category, journalists whether freelance or affiliated or regularly
employed in a newspaper or magazine company covering the Asia-Pacific
region can participate in the Awards. The Awards carry a prize of
USD 7,000 for first prize winners in each category, and a USD 2,000 prize
for runners up

Entries in the local language must be accompanied by a typewritten
English translation and a written certification from the chief editor of
the newspaper/magazine, which published the article that the translation
truly reflects the content of the article in the local language.

For radio, they must be accompanied by a typewritten English
translation, and for TV, they must have English subtitles. The same
requirement of a written certification on the translation from the
executive producer/chief editor applies for broadcast entries.

UNESCAP, UNDP and ADB launched the MDGs Media Awards during the South Asia MDG Forum held from 11-12 October 2006 in Kathmandu Nepal.

Entries to the 1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards
by participating broadcast producers and journalists should
cover the contest year from 1 January 2006 through 30 June 2007.
Deadline for entries is 25 March 2007. Winners will be announced during
the 63rd UNESCAP Commission Session scheduled for April 2007. Deadline
for submission is 25 March 2007.

For radio and TV producers, their entries could include a special
report, public affairs programme, or a documentary with a length of
between 15 and 60 minutes. For print journalists, their entries could
include a special report, investigative piece and explanatory reporting
with a minimum length of one thousand (1,000) words.

The MDGs – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the
spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the
target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world's
countries and all the world's leading development institutions.

The 1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards
aim to generate better awareness and understanding of the
MDGs, and motivate journalists from the region to cover stories on how
MDGs are being pursued in the region. It is also hoped that media will
be stimulated, through the Awards, to become a driving force in
accelerating national action toward achieving the MDGs.

1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards
Entries in the three categories should focus on one or all of the
following aspects in their reports:

* Tracking progress on the MDGs: How are countries in the region
performing? Which countries are 'on track" to achieve and which aren't?
Why are some countries performing well and not others?

* Human Face of MDGs: What does MDGs mean in people's daily lives? What
is the role of civil society? What are the success stories heading
towards 2015? Who are the key players driving forward change and that
are they doing?

* Changes needed in achieving the MDGs: – What changes are needed to
meet the 2015 target? Eg. improving public service delivery (including
education, health, water and sanitation); engaging communities;
empowering women; fostering public-private partnership; etc.

1st Asia-Pacific Millennium Development Goals Media Awards
Entry forms and contest rules are available on the AIBD download site:
http://download.aibd.org.my/papers/MDG_Media_Awards_07/

The AIBD acts as the secretariat for the Awards and for more details on
the MDG Media Awards, please contact:
Mr. Jose Ma. G. Carlos, AIBD Programme Manager
Tel: (+60) 3 22822761 / 22823719
E-mail: joecarlos@aibd.org.my

For further queries regarding the UNESCAP/UNDP/ ADB MDG Project, please
contact:
Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director
Poverty and Development Division, UNESCAP
Tel: (+66) 2288 1902
E-mail: ratnayaker@un.org