The award aims at recognising outstanding contributions to food security by the Kenyan media
By Ochieng’ Ogodo
Journalist-Nairobi
[NAIROBI]
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has launched
the World Food Day Media Award. It was launched in Kenya on 9 August.
The
award is aimed at creating and encouraging the highest standards of excellence
in agricultural reporting focusing on food and agricultural issues and honour
Kenyan journalists under 30 for their exceptional journalistic work in covering
the area.
The
award will be will be one of the build-up activities towards this year’s World
Food Day to be commemorated on 16 October.
The
official World Food Day theme this year is “Sustainable Food Systems for Food
Security and Nutrition”.
About
870 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished and unsustainable
models of development are degrading services providing natural environment.
This is threatening ecosystems and biodiversity needed for our future food
supply. There have been numerous calls for radical shift in our agriculture and
food systems.
World
Food Day offers an opportunity to explore and reflect on how to bring about the
future we want.
It
is against this backdrop that FAO in Kenya has decided to recognise outstanding
contributions made by the media in Kenya.
Journalists
have a vital role to play in promoting understanding of food and agricultural
issues among the public, especially on challenges related to food security.
“They
can help by educating their communities, so that their audiences are aware of
the issues affecting food security,” says Robert Allport, FAO Representative in
Kenya.
The
World Food Day Media Award in Kenya is open to those under 30 years, and is
designed to elevate the standards of excellence in print media and offer
winners a boost in marketing and exposure.
The
award places a premium on compelling stories occurring in Kenya that report
problems and solutions related to food security.
FAO
says online applications are now open for submission and will close on 30
September midnight, East African time. There will be several prizes.
For more on World Food Day 2013 visit http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/
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