Awardees of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) Caribbean Media Awards for coverage of healthy nutrition food policies were honoured yesterday with additional prizes.
Along with the trophies and certificates that were presented to the winners during the recent ceremony in Belize, each awardee received a bursary of BDS$2 000 to contribute to the production of additional content under the theme of healthy nutrition food policy.
These awards, recognising excellence in journalism in the areas of healthy nutrition and food policy, were sponsored by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC). The presentations took place at the Caribbean Media Centre on Harbour Road, St Michael.
Winner in the print category was freelancer Donna Sealy, representing the Nation Publishing Co Limited for her article titled It’s War – A Deep Dive Into The Healthy Nutrition Food Policy.
In the television category,
the Barbados Government Information Service was awarded for Grow Green Barbados: Episode 3 of its organic farming series. Collaborators of the project Aisha Reid, Mikul Elcock, David Bynoe, Esther Jones and KathyAnn Husbands were honoured.
Other media entities such as RJR News and the Gleaner Communications Group, both in Jamaica, also received a special mention.
Executive director of the HCC Maisha Hutton said the introduction of the awards, through the CBU has been instrumental in catalysing and expanding media interest and work in the area of nutrition policy.
“Building public and policymaker awareness, support and demand for comprehensive NCD [noncommunicable disease] policies requires a whole of society and whole of government mobilisation, with the media playing
a central role,” she said.
“The media is a powerful actor, an information vehicle which can shape and mould and empower citizens to understand, appreciate and demand change. Through this partnership with CBU, the HCC has been able to deepen our relationships and expand our networks with media actors across the region, thus enabling the HCC to garner the media support needed to educate and empower Caribbean people, including the most vulnerable individuals,” Hutton added.
Secretary general of the CBU Sonia Gill underscored the importance of the awards in incentivising the press to focus on the critical issues.
“We’re seeking to make a difference through media and communication to the development of our region. We’re happy to welcome one of those collaborators, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition which, like others, has seen the benefit of partnering with CBU to incentivise and encourage media to place the focus on critical issues affecting the audiences that we serve,” she said.
(JRN)
