..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 22 September 2006
Press Release No: G/40/2006

MDG Media Awards to be launched in Kathmandu, Nepal

UNESCAP- UNDP-ADB initiative recognizes distinguished reporting
AIBD to act as project secretariat

United Nations Information Services Bangkok, 22 September – The first media awards of its kind in the region designed to recognize distinguished reporting on the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), will be launched by UNESCAP, UNDP and ADB on 11 October in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Awards will be open to broadcast producers and journalists in print, radio and television media covering the Asia-Pacific region. The Awards carry a prize of US$7,000 for first prize winners, and a US$2,000 prize for runners up. They are being announced as part of a South Asian MDG Forum to be held in Kathmandu from 11-12 October. The prizes will be awarded during UNESCAP’s 63rd Commission Session scheduled for April 2007.

“The media has an important role in promoting and communicating the MDGs to the general public,” notes UN Under-Secretary-General and UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su. “UNESCAP hopes that the MDG Media Awards will encourage increased MDG reporting in the Asia Pacific region and show the human face behind the efforts being made to meet the 2015 deadline.”

The MDG Media Awards aim to generate better awareness and understanding of the MDGs among journalists and to recognize their contribution in advocating for the MDGs. They are part of a tripartite initiative between the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) will act as the secretariat for the Awards’ project. The Kuala Lumpur-based regional inter-governmental organization serves UNESCAP members in the field of electronic media development. It is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.

The Millennium Development Goals – which range from eradicating extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and ensuring environmental sustainability, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed by all the world’s leaders and leading development institutions in 2000.

Entry forms and contest rules are available at www.aibd.org.my. Background information is attached.

For further details on the MDG Media Awards, please contact:
Mr. Jose Ma. G. Carlos, AIBD Programme Manager
Tel: (+60) 3 22822761 / 22823719
E-mail: joecarlos@aibd.org.my

For further queries regarding the UNESCAP/UNDP/ADB MDG Project, please contact:
Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director
Poverty and Development Division, UNESCAP
Tel: (+66) 2288 1902
E-mail: ratnayaker@un.org

Background information:

The competition is open to all radio and TV producers/journalists from public service broadcasting organizations, private networks and free-lance producers covering Asia and the Pacific. For the print category, journalists whether freelance or affiliated or regularly employed in a newspaper or magazine company covering the Asia-Pacific region can participate in the Awards. Entries by participating broadcast producers and journalists should cover the contest year from 1 January 2006 through 30 June 2007.

For radio and TV producers, their entries could include a special report, public affairs programme, or a documentary with a length of between 15 and 60 minutes. For print journalists, their entries could include a special report, investigative piece and explanatory reporting with a minimum length of one thousand (1,000) words.

Entries in the three categories should focus on one or all of the following aspects in their reports:

· Tracking progress on the MDGs: How are countries in the region performing? Which countries are ‘on track’ to achieve and which aren’t? Why are some countries performing well and not others?

· Human Face of MDGs: What do MDGs mean in people’s daily lives? What is the role of civil society? What are the success stories heading towards 2015? Who are the key players driving forward change and what are they doing?

· Changes needed in achieving the MDGs: – What changes are needed to meet the 2015 target?, e.g. improving public service delivery (including education, health, water and sanitation); engaging communities; empowering women; fostering public-private partnership; etc.

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