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News

SeaWeb Launches Inaugural
Ocean Journalism Awards In Fiji

Entries sought for excellence in reporting on critical marine issues

 

Matilda Simmons (Mai Life Magazine) captures Ranoba Baoa's (USP Journalism student) conversation with a Kubulau woman as she prepares her bait for fishing. 
Matilda Simmons (Mai Life Magazine) captures Ranoba Baoa's (USP Journalism student) conversation with a Kubulau woman as she prepares her bait for fishing.

From the state of inshore fisheries to the impacts of climate change, Fijian journalists have the power to elevate public discussion of critical marine issues that impact the economic, social and cultural health of Fiji. SeaWeb, in partnership with the University of South Pacific and the Pacific Island News Association, created the Ocean Journalism Awards to honor reporters who have demonstrated a level of excellence in covering marine-related stories.

The Awards launch and open call-for-entries was announced today, September 19, 2011.

Download Awards Guidelines and information on how to enter [PDF, 314 KB]
Download Awards Entry Form [PDF, 298 KB]

Since 2006, SeaWeb has operated a six-month media fellowship called Sea Series, which connects journalists with ocean experts, policy makers and communities involved with marine conservation issues. The inaugural Awards are an important milestone in the continued growth of ocean news coverage in Fiji.

“The Ocean Journalism Awards are a direct result of the increasing depth and impact of environmental coverage in Fiji,” said Scott Radway, SeaWeb’s Asia Pacific Program Director. “The Awards also present an incentive for Fiji journalists to continue to raise the bar for covering issues critical to the country’s future.”

The Awards have five categories:
  • Newspaper
  • Magazine or Online Publication
  • Television
  • Radio
  • Journalism Student
“SeaWeb is extremely pleased to be supporting these Awards to showcase the high level of talent in Fiji and shed a light on the important issues facing the island nation,” said Dawn M. Martin, SeaWeb’s President. "Journalists are some of our most important allies in telling the stories of the sea that matter and making the public aware of what is happening below the surface of the ocean.”

One winner of each category will receive a cash prize and engraved carving. Submissions must have been published for the first time in Fiji between October 10, 2010 and October 9, 2011. The deadline for entries is Thursday, October 13, 2011. 

Winners will be announced and presented at SeaWeb’s Sea Series graduation ceremony Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the Suva Civic Center in Fiji at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. There is no cost to attend. To R.S.V.P., please contact Alumeci Nakeke via email at anakeke@seaweb.org.

 

Read the press release announcing the contest here >>