Race for 2015 NB's Golden Pen awards kicks off

The race for who becomes the next Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year has begun with call for entries from journalists across the country.

The Golden Pen Awards which began eight years ago is meant to celebrate outstanding journalistic works and to motivate journalists to do more to build a better nation.

The awards will reward journalists in three categories - the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year, Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Photo Journalist of the Year and the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Report of the Year.

Nigerian Breweries Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem, who explained to newsmen at a media parley in Lagos noted that the Golden Pen award was introduced to promote professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria.

"It is also meant to reward such journalists who abide by the ethics of the journalism profession," he added.

Like the previous two editions, Ekanem disclosed that the theme of this year’s award remains Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development to help draw attention to critical issues of development in these areas.

“In March 2014, we gathered here to announce plans for the 6th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award. That 2014 edition was the beginning of the expanded platform that draws attention to critical development areas by rewarding journalists who excel in reporting in themed areas,” he said.

He stressed that the previous editions had strengthened the credibility of the NB Golden Pen Awards because they have made it more inclusive and ensured an increased media buy-in.

He therefore enjoined journalists to enter for the award by submitting their entries from June 28th until Friday, August 19th, 2016 adding that it is only works published in 2015 that would be accepted.

He also informed that an independent jury will analyze the entries for their originality, news value, use of resources, credibility and factuality.

“Other areas of interest would include info-graphics, lay out/headline, clarity and social responsibility. After the adjudication, a shortlist of nominees would be announced early in October 2016. The 8th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Awards Ceremony will hold on Friday, October 28, 2016 where winners will be announced,” he said. According to him, winners in the three categories will receive the Golden Pen Award, gift items and the following cash prizes:

The NB golden pen reporter of the year (N1,000,000), the golden pen Nigerian Breweries report of the year (N500,000), the NB golden pen photojournalist of the year (500, 000), first runner up NB golden pen reporter of the year (300, 000) and the second runner up NB golden pen reporter of the year (200, 000) while the first runner up NB photojournalist of the Year (250, 000), the pecond runner up NB Photojournalist of the Year gets (N200, 000).