MEDIA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENT TOURISM REPORTING
In collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry (MTTI), the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), the Media and Tourism Training Institutions, the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), the USAID-STAR Program organizes a media competition and Awards Ceremony annually. The event is held to recognize journalists and media houses that provide excellent coverage of tourism and wildlife/nature conservation related issues. The first of its kind was held in September 2010 and this year on September 16, 2011.
A “Media Awards Program” was among several collaborative actions that were proposed and agreed upon by stakeholders from various organizations at the USAID-STAR Program’s collaborative planning retreat, held in October 2009. The stakeholder groups represented at that retreat included the media, the national government, local government, conservation agencies, tour operators and hospitality companies, international friends, training institutions, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations and the private sector. The media representatives present proposed that an annual media awards program be established to recognize journalists and media houses that cover tourism and conservation related issues with the highest standards.
The awards are categorized into print, radio and television broadcast. There is also a category of Honorable Mention for regional reporters from the Albertine Rift. Media houses that provide more time and/or space for sustainable tourism issues will also be recognized and honored. For each of the categories, there will be one prime winner and two runners-up. Each prime winner will be awarded 1,000,000 UGX plus other prizes, the two runners-up 500,000 UGX each plus other prizes. The Honorable Mention reporters will also walk away with 500,000 UGX and other prizes.
Our aim is for journalists and editors to provide more space and time to tourism and conservation related issues in a national effort to stimulate economic growth while conserving nature and improving livelihoods, we would like to request your in-kind support for the effort.
The sustainability of Uganda’s tourism sector and the livelihoods of many depend on what we do now, together.
