Developing Asia Journalism Training and Awards 2008
Post-event Statement
Journalists from India, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines won top prizes at the Fourth Developing Asia Journalism Awards, known as DAJA, organized by the Asian Development Bank Institute on 11-14 November 2008. Prizes were awarded in recognition of reporting excellence in four categories: governance, regional integration, infrastructure, and environment. There were two special prizes for Development Journalist of the Year and Young Development Journalist of the Year. Twenty five finalists from 13 developing countries in Asia were selected by a distinguished panel of four independent judges, from among 240 entries submitted. They were invited to take part in the event in Tokyo that, for the first time, included a four-day training workshop in addition to an awards ceremony held on 14 November evening at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. Twenty two finalists attended the event. During the four-day training workshop, participating journalists were exposed to the latest trend and thinking on a number of development issues, ranging from macroeconomic development and indicators to regional integration, infrastructure, and environmentally sustainable development. The session on macroeconomic indicators was based on ADB's publication titled “Key Indicators 2008”, while the sessions on regional integration and environment introduced the outcome and findings of ADB's publication on “Emerging Asian Regionalism” and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies' publication on “Climate Change Policies in the Asia-Pacific”, respectively. The session on infrastructure discussed the preliminary outcome of the on going ADBI's flagship study on Infrastructure and Regional Cooperation. Participants also visited Kyocera Sakura Factory, which produces solar panels, and the NHK Broadcasting Center. Diplomats from most of the 13 countries and journalists from various news agencies attended the Awards Ceremony and Dinner on 14 November 2008. The judges gave the awards to the winners and runners-up of each of the four categories. ADBI's Dean, Masahiro Kawai, presented the two special prizes for Development Journalist of the Year and Young Development Journalist of the Year. See the list of finalists/winners and their entries. |
Purpose
The training program will contribute to better governance through better monitoring and objective assessment by journalists of regional and national policies and initiatives as well as emerging economic and development trends.
Objectives
The Developing Asia Journalism Awards, known as DAJA, for 2008 will be combined with a short training course for a group of 25 journalists from developing Asia and the Pacific. Participants will be exposed to current thinking on macroeconomic stability, private sector development, the role of financial institutions, important development issues, and impacts of globalization and regionalism. Alongside these elements, there will be practical sessions designed to help journalists prepare clear, accessible stories that help ordinary citizens understand the economic realities and development issues facing their countries. The objectives of this training course and the awards are to enhance the understanding and analytical skills of journalists in Asia on key economic and development issues, and promote public awareness through better coverage of these issues. Journalists will be invited to submit articles on the four themes: - governance,
- regional integration,
- infrastructure
- environment.
The best 25 articles will be selected by a panel of judges and their authors/writers will be invited to the four-days training program that concludes with an award ceremony. Winners and runner-ups of each of the four categories in addition to two special prizes for i) best development journalist of the year and ii) best young development journalist of the year will be selected and awards given to them at the Foreign Correspondents Club.
Outputs
- Enhanced monitoring, analytical and reporting skills for Asian journalists on economic and development issues
- Greater awareness of the public on these issues through the works of these journalists
- Better corporate and public governance in Asia and the Pacific
- ADBI's publication of winning articles
Participants
25 journalists from ADB's developing member countries
Partners
Asian Development Bank
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