Entries for this year’s Promasidor Quill Awards for journalists will begin from September 9, 2013 through to April 30, 2014.
The Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, Chief Keith Richards, who made the disclosure at a press conference held in the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, also explained that qualifying entries are publications from April 1, 2013 through to April 30, 2014.
The awards were instituted in 2012 as a way of rewarding excellence in journalism in Nigeria for dedicated news reportage on industry, education and corporate social responsibility and nutrition issues all year round.
It would be recalled that the first edition of the event had five categories comprising the Brand Advocate of the year, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Report of the year, Most Educative Report of the year, Best Report on Nutrition and the Best Photo Story of the year.
However, the categories have been increased to seven.
The new additions are Best Report on Children and Best Future Reporter of the Year.
Richards also stated that the media was an important organ in the life of the society and the responsibility it plays in checking the pulse of different issues in society is crucial but most times undermined.
He noted that the role of the journalists that works hard on the field to research, source for accurate information and report them daily to millions of people each day is also often overlooked and taken for granted.
Richards added: “Since we sold the first sachet of milk and grew our product brands across our dairy, beverage and food enhancement categories, we have enjoyed and benefitted from the support of the media and committed journalists who have noticed our commitment and hard work. This year, Promasidor celebrates its 20th anniversary and our success over the years has been driven by the dedication of the media to promote our quality consumer brands.
Since the 18th March, 2012 when this award was launched, we have joined the media world to celebrate five remarkable journalists who flagged off the maiden edition at the grand awards dinner at the Eko Hotel & Towers on 27th April, earlier this year.”
Richards noted that Promasidor launched the Quill Awards last year at its Media Brand Academy as a platform in Nigeria to reward journalists for dedicated news reportage in key areas such as Industry, Education, Corporate Social Responsibility and Nutrition issues all year round.
He added: “We are committed to continue to grow the awards as a professional platform of assessment, recognition and reward for outstanding journalistic work.
“These awards seek to remind journalists of the importance of their role in society and to society, the need to encourage professionalism and appreciate outstanding work.
“Every journey starts with the first step and we have taken this step to reward excellent news reportage that informs, educate and responsibly shape public perception on topical issues and industry activities.
“The participation for the awards has been impressive for a maiden edition but we would love to encourage more participation from journalists across the nation this year. We were able to get our winners from a variety of entries in five different categories.”
Richards explained that the Award winners received state-of-the-art tools for the trade and also are scheduled to begin a six weeks certificate-awarding course at the School of Media and Communications at the Pan African University, Lagos that will further equip them with new knowledge to do more.
He said: “The stage is set once again, as we are prepared to select the next set of winners for the Promasidor Quill Awards 2013/14 Season. As earlier promised we have taken time to listen to the recommendations from the panel of judges, feedback from journalists and considered the growing media trend to improve the entry categories for this year. We have increased the number of categories to accommodate more entries and also created one for to encourage young and upcoming writers.”
Richards disclosed that the company has developed these awards with present technology trends in mind as it has built a new and improved website for the Quill awards to collect entries and keep journalists informed through interaction and social media integration through the year.
The new website, according to him, will go live on September 9, 2013.
Speaking in the same vein, Andrew Enahoro, Head of Legal and PR, Promasidor, said the award categories have been thoughtfully picked to encourage better journalists coverage of areas that are very important to society.
Enahoro said the company included the brand advocate of the year to reward journalists that cover brand activities in the market space.
“All entry publication for each category seeks to reward excellent reportage about these issues as it concerns or affects society and industry. It has no bias regarding the content or the direction besides fulfilling the criteria for the awards,” he noted.
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