Our Pacific Ocean Media Award launched for the Pacific islands

“Our Pacific Ocean Media Award” was launched in commemoration of World Ocean Day on June 8 to both recognize and encourage Pacific island journalists to highlight the Pacific Ocean, the largest resource of the Pacific island region.

The health and wellbeing of the Pacific Ocean is under threat from the challenges brought about by marine debris and plastic, climate change, and overfishing, which endanger this valuable resource. 

“Through this award we hope to encourage our Pacific island journalists to tell our Pacific stories about our ocean,” according to a statement from Pacific Community, or SPC. “Now under threat from so many environment issues, we must all work together to make sure we protect and conserve our ocean.  Highlighting both the positive and negative stories will help ensure our ocean is a priority for us all.”

The award to commemorate the work of Pacific island journalists is a partnership between SPC, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, Pacific Island News Association, Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

It calls for Pacific island journalists to submit stories under the categories of print, radio or television, with a fourth category open for journalism students.  The judges will also give a best overall prize, which will be decided between the winners of the four categories.  Winning submissions from each category will be awarded $600.

The underlying theme for all entries submitted is our ocean. These stories can be science-based, showcasing community projects and, or positive actions to conserve the Pacific Ocean or her resources.  Stories can also be about problems caused by bad practices or about ocean champions—people doing positive things for our ocean. The wide range of angles and possibilities is welcome, provided all submissions are about the Pacific Ocean.

Our Pacific Ocean Media Award is open for Pacific island media workers who reside and work in the Pacific islands, noting submissions can be in English, French, or national languages with the English or French translation. Submissions must have been published or broadcast between Oct. 3, 2017, and Oct. 3, 2018, with the award closing on Oct. 5, 2018.  Winners will be announced on the International Day of Climate Action on Oct. 24, 2018.

There is a maximum of three entries per person.  A judging panel of four will check against journalism skill, accuracy, proficiency in the media genre, innovation and creativity to maintain interest. (SPC)