Red Cross Award for Humanitarian Reporting 2011 Press Release

Prior to the Memorandum of Understanding signing at the Thursday luncheon meeting of Rotary Club of Manila last Thursday September 30, 2010 at the Manila Polo Club, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Deputy Head – Mr. Christopher Sutter and ICRC Communication Coordinator Ms Anastasia Isyuk, spoke of the partnership of ICRC‘s RED CROSS AWARD FOR HUMANITARIAN REPORTING 2011 with Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Rotary Club of Manila (RCM),  International News Safety Institute (PNSI), Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) Philippines, and Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE).

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding: standing from left to right:  RCM Journalism Co Chairman Public Relations Officer Frank Evaristo, RCM Pres. Gert A Gust, ICRC Deputy Head Mr Christopher Sutter, PECOJON Phils. Mr Nowell Guanang, INSI Mr. Victor Redmond Batario and PACE – Mr. Robert Baldago. Seated from Right to Left are: Ms Len Marquez (PECOJON), ICRC Communication Coordinator Ms Anastasia Ishyuk, Mr Alexander Rosete  (PRC) and Ms. Flordeliz Abanto (PACE). Not in photo is RCM Journalism Awards Chairman Rodolfo T Reyes.

Manila, 12 August 2010. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), launched today its first journalism award to recognize stories that best illustrate the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts.

Titled “Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Award 2011,” the competition is open to all print/online, television and radio journalists who have published or aired insightful news reports, features or documentaries on the armed-conflict situation in the Philippines.

“Today is a very special day for us because apart from marking international humanitarian law (IHL) day, we are launching a competition that will honor journalists who serve as the voice of civilians affected by these clashes,” said Anastasia Isyuk, ICRC communication coordinator.

The ICRC is an independent humanitarian organisation that aims to protect and assist victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination. In the Philippines, it coordinates with the PRC, its operational partner, in providing help to those affected by situations of violence.

In support of the project are the International News Safety Institute (INSI), Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (Pecojon), Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE) and Rotary Club of Manila (RCM). All six organizations will be represented in the judging panels for the three categories.

Entries for the contest, which should highlight the consequences of armed conflict, must be sent to one of the following PACE member-schools: xxxxxxxxx (Luzon), Cebu Technological University (Visayas), xxxxxxxx (Mindanao).

Deadline for nominations is on 12 March 2011. Out of 30 finalists, the judges will select the awardees whose names will be announced on 8 May 2011, Red Cross Day.

Winners of the “Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Award” will be given various prizes including plaques, digital recorders, books, and the chance to receive trainings on IHL and conflict reporting.

“We hope this award will generate more interest in humanitarian reporting, and stir more journalists in tackling the many serious issues that surround the armed-conflict situation in the Philippines,” said Alexander Rosete, PRC officer-in-charge of communication.

For more details on the award, please contact:
Allison Lopez, ICRC communication officer, 0908-8686884
E-mail [email protected] (for queries only) or visit www.icrc.org