OFAB announces media awards for agric journalists

The Open Forum Agricultural Biotechnology, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with focus on agriculture, has opened its submission entries for the third edition of its media awards for journalists reporting on agriculture in Ghana.

The OFAB Media Awards, provides an opportunity to enhance knowledge-sharing and awareness creation on agricultural biotechnology that will raise understanding and appreciation of the technology and contribute to building an enabling environment for informed and timely decision making.

The yearly awards scheme, which was instituted in 2017, aims at recognizing exemplary journalism that stimulates best practices in the adoption of agricultural technologies; particularly agricultural biotechnology.

Journalists working with print and online portals, radio and television stations from across the various regions of the country are invited to apply for the award.

The awarding criteria will be based on Key considerations such as the scientific accuracy in reporting biotech related stories, initiative, originality, clarity of interpretation and value in fostering a better public understanding of agricultural biotechnology and its impacts.

The organisers of the awards scheme believe that with agriculture, science and technology being an integral part of Ghana’s development agenda, journalists play a key role in helping the country to achieve the desired results in the field of agriculture.

Journalists, have therefore, been encouraged to prioritise agricultural reporting, particularly on agricultural biotechnology.

The awards scheme will accept stories published from July 30, 2018 to June 26, 2019. Entries should be submitted by August 25, 2019 to ofabghana@outlook.com

Background

OFAB, an initiative of African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is a platform that provides an opportunity to enhance knowledge-sharing and awareness creation on agricultural biotechnology.

OFAB Ghana engages with various stakeholders during conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings, to bridge the gap between scientists, policy makers and the public.

Journalist submitting their stories should include the following:

I. A brief synopsis (about 150 words) of the stories submitted (Max 3 stories for each category)II. About 150-word professional biography

III. A brief 200-word piece explaining the motivation for each story submitted

IV. Digital passport size photo and

V. A copy of national ID/Passport.

VI. Evidence of Media Accreditation/Membership of a National Media Association.