DAVAO CITY (PIA) —The Department of Science and Technology is calling on members of the media as well as social media content creators with science and technology stories to join and submit their entries to the 2024 Bantog Awards for Media and Science Communication.
“This is an initiative through which we give recognition sa ating mga kasama sa media na patuloy na tumutulong sa DOST na maiparating ang magagandang balita and the benefits of science, technology, and innovation to the Filipino people,” said Rodolfo P. de Guzman, chief science research specialist from the DOST Communication Resources and Production Division.
(This is an initiative through which we give recognition to our colleagues in the media who are continuously helping the DOST bring good news and the benefits of science, technology, and innovation to the Filipino people.)
This is the second Bantog Award after it was first held in 2018.
“The awards are held every two years, but we were not able to do it as planned because of the pandemic,” de Guzman said.
He said the awards are aimed at promoting science, technology, and innovation news, as these are usually not provided that much space in mainstream media.
“We have many Filipino scientists, researchers, and engineers who excel. They have great inventions and innovations that are not given much airtime. We need to encourage our friends in the media to help us, and these Bantog Media Awards are one way of encouraging them,” de Guzman said.
The Bantog Awards consist of the following 10 categories:
- Best Science & Technology news story text (either published in print or online)
- Best S&T news story audio
- Best S&T news story video
- Best S&T investigative story (video)
- Best S&T feature story text
- Best S&T short-form series (online content: TikTok, YouTube, Facebook Reels)
- Best S&T editorial opinion text
- Best S&T editorial audio video
- Outstanding S&T advocate
- Outstanding S&T information officers
The awards are also open to social media content creators and will give recognition to DOST information officers as well.
“We will have a total of 12 awardees in the ten categories,” de Guzman said.
He said media practitioners on television, print, radio, and online platforms are welcome to participate. Also highly encouraged to join are bloggers and social media content creators.
“As long as they are Filipino citizens and they are publishing their works in the Philippines, there is no age limit, and we do not limit whether they are still in school or already working,” de Guzman said.
The winners of Best S&T news story, Best S&T audio, Best feature story, Best Editorial, and Best Opinion (text) will receive P50,000 each and a trophy.
Winners for Best Editorial Opinion Audio-Video, Best Investigative Story (video), Best News Story (video), and Best Short Form Series Video will receive P100,000 each and a trophy.
Outstanding S&T information officers will receive trophies and cash prizes of P30,000 (first place), P20,000 (2nd place), and P10,000 (3rd place).
The covered period for content and stories is from July 2023 to June 2024. For mechanics, guidelines, forms, and links to upload, they can visit the Facebook page of the DOST. The deadline for submission of entries is August 9, 2024. (RGA/PIA)
