The Archdiocesan Commission for Communication (ACC) in collaboration with the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) is offering awards to encourage members of the media and associated businesses to produce work that clearly demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:

• Safeguarding the common good.
• Upholding truth.
• Protecting individual human dignity.
• Promoting respect for the needs of the family.

The Awards are also to enable practitioners to showcase expertise in their field and demonstrate to their peers and competitors their ability to produce effective communication products while maintaining high ethical standards in their work.

The Awards cover print, television / film and radio.  Entries are welcome from any media organisation or individual.

The theme for the Lumen Media Awards will be based on the annual ‘World Communications Day’ message.

The 2007 - 2008 Lumen Media Awards

Theme

The theme for the 2007 – 2008 Lumen Media Awards is: “Protecting Children’s Basic Rights”.

Conditions of Entry

All entries MUST BE broadcast or published in Trinidad and Tobago or the Caribbean Region between June 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008. Any news item, feature story, photograph, in print or broadcast by radio or television may be entered provided it was produced in Trinidad and Tobago.

Entry Form

An official entry form (photocopies accepted) must accompany each entry. More than one entry will be accepted in each category. Download entry form - 146k pdf

Close of Entries

All entries must be received by close of business at 4 pm on Friday May 16, 2008.

No late entries will be accepted!

Categories for 2007 / 2008

Print

Preparing Entries: Please supply your entry on 2 formats - a clipping and a photocopy of the published piece.

• Best News Story
• Best Feature Story
• Best Editorial / Commentary

Best News Story
Submissions must be an information oriented, factual, impersonal account, representing coverage of an event or development or personal advocacy surrounding issues relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, balance and fairness.

Best Feature Story
Submissions must be expanded, non-fictional, in-depth treatment of events that seek to uncover truth and/or analyse, explain, and illuminate significant issues or public concerns surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, balance and fairness.

Best Editorial/Commentary
Submissions must be an article or column outlining a corporate or personal position or opinion, or advocacy on an issue, based on research and analysis of facts, and aimed at stimulating public debate and opinion on safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Photographic

Preparing Entries: Please supply your entry on 2 formats a CD and clipping.

• Best Editorial Cartoon
• Best Page
• Best News Photograph
• Best Feature Photograph

Best Editorial Cartoon
Submissions must be published, drawn original imagery to lend analytical and/or satirical support to editorial positions on any development relative to issues and/or public concerns over safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best Page
Submissions will incorporate design and layout of composite and/or individual photographic images and/or graphics in support of a feature or news story on safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best News Photograph
Submissions must be a non-fiction, action oriented photographic image in black and white or colour that effectively complements news coverage of any event or development surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best Feature Photograph
Submissions must be a non-fiction photographic image in colour or black and white that supports a feature and assists in clarifying or illuminating issues or concerns raised relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Television and Film

Preparing Entries
TV News Entries: Please supply your entry on DVD.

• Best News Story
• Best Supporting News Video
• Best Feature/ Documentary
• Best Supporting Feature Video
• Best Editing

Best News Story
Submissions must be an information oriented, factual, impersonal account, through video and narration, of an event or development or personal advocacy surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, balance and fairness.

Best Supporting News Video
Submissions must be video that lends support to narration and assists in clarifying or illuminating issues of a news story relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best Feature/Documentary
Submissions must be expanded, non-fictional, in-depth treatment of events, incorporating video and narration and use of graphics, that seek to uncover truth and/or analyse facts behind issues surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, balance and fairness.

Best Supporting Feature Video
Submissions must be video that lends support to narration and assists in clarifying or illuminating issues of a feature relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best Editing
Submissions must be creative approaches to juxtapositioning of video, sound bites, actuality, appropriate animation, music and sound effects to enhance impact of a feature or news story relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.
Radio
Preparing Entries: Please supply entries on CD.

• Best News Story
• Best Radio Feature/Programme (weekly programs, Specialist Shows)
• Best On-Air Interview

Best News Story
Submissions must be a voiced information oriented,  factual, impersonal account, including actuality and inserts, of an event or development or personal advocacy surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, objectivity, balance and fairness.

Best Radio Feature/Programme
Submissions must be voiced expanded, non-fictional, in-depth treatment of events, incorporating music and sound effects, or one-on-one interview that seek to uncover truth and/or analyse facts behind issues surrounding safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family, and incorporating the tenets of good journalism, including accuracy, objectivity, balance and fairness.

Best On-Air Interview
Submissions must demonstrate interviewer command and control, familiarity with topic and capacity to elicit information through incisive and probing questioning while at the same time displaying respect for the position of the interviewee on issues relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.

Best Overall Entry

• Best Overall Entry – all entries will qualify

BEST OVERALL ENTRY
Submissions must demonstrate application of journalism best practice, including innovation and creativity in writing style, presentation (either design or lay out or combination of narration and presentation), and use of new technology to enhance effectiveness and illuminate the issues dealt with relative to safeguarding the common good, upholding truth, protecting individual human dignity and promoting respect for the needs of the family.