First press award to honor journalists in the field of Buddhist media

The press award is held to recognize and honor the outstanding contributions of groups, individuals, and teams of journalists in the field of Buddhist media.

On June 18, the Information and Communications Department - Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) announced the first National Press Award "Propaganda of Good Religion - Good Life, Vietnamese Buddhism Accompanying the Nation" in 2024.

Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice President of the Executive Council, Head of the Information and Communications Department - Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, spoke at the event. (Photo: Le An)

The press award will be an opportunity to introduce and promote the results and achievements of the VBS and the community of monks, nuns and Buddhists in the cause of building and developing the country.

Not only discovering typical examples of a "good religion, good life" lifestyle and propagating the Dharma, the award also encourages and motivates monks, nuns, and Buddhists to join hands and continue to contribute more to the cause of developing Buddhism, thereby creating conditions for journalists and collaborators to exchange professional and technical experiences, improving the quality and effectiveness of information activities.

At the press conference, Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice President of the Executive Council, Head of the Information and Communications Department - Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Organizing Committee, affirmed that in recent years, the topic of Buddhism and the field of religious beliefs have increasingly received attention from the press, reflecting all aspects of activities on the media.

The Venerable emphasized: “Press agencies with many works in different genres such as newspapers, electronic newspapers, radio, television and photojournalism have played an important role in introducing and disseminating the humanistic and ethical values ​​of Buddhism, the worldly activities of monks and nuns, in monasteries nationwide and abroad, especially in countries where many overseas Vietnamese are living, studying and working.”

Through the organization of the award, the Buddhist community and the whole society have the opportunity to access the positive, humane and peaceful messages of Buddhism; contribute to the propaganda and dissemination of knowledge about Buddhism, enhance understanding and empathy between different religions and religious communities.

Venerable Thich Gia Quang said that this activity is consistent with the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on press activities; consistent with the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress Resolution; promoting positive and humane factors in religions and beliefs; criticizing and preventing negative, superstitious and heretical manifestations.

According to the Venerable, the press award will also contribute to perfecting and implementing ethnic and religious policies; having specific policies to solve difficulties for ethnic minorities; implementing religious solidarity and national solidarity; condemning all plots and actions to divide and sabotage national solidarity, hindering the country's development.

The jury will select and award prizes to high-quality journalistic works about Buddhism with attractive content and form, bringing about broad social effects, and positively contributing to the development of the country.

Through the award, journalists who follow the field of religion in general and Buddhism in particular will have an environment and motivation to strive and contribute; at the same time, discover and nurture exemplary models, typical advanced monks, nuns and Buddhists who have devoted themselves to the cause of propagating the Dharma.

Contest entries are works published and broadcast from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 on licensed press publications.

The Organizing Committee will start accepting entries from June 18, 2024 to January 5, 2025. The judging period is expected to be January 2025; awards will be presented in the first quarter of 2025.

The entries should focus on promoting a healthy and peaceful lifestyle in the spirit of Buddhism; promoting national protection and construction associated with a healthy religious life, strengthening national solidarity; stories about the lives and work of monks, nuns, and Buddhists, lessons from Buddhist scriptures, or charitable and community support activities organized by monks, nuns, and Buddhists.

Contestants must be Vietnamese citizens whose press works on Buddhism have been published or broadcast on licensed press agencies (print, electronic, radio, television, and photos) within the prescribed time.

Foreign authors whose journalistic works (written in Vietnamese) comply with the regulations of the award are eligible to submit entries.

Authors whose works participate in the award do not violate the 10 regulations on professional ethics of Vietnamese journalists, do not violate the Press Law, do not violate the Law on Religious Beliefs and other provisions of law.

Prize structure: 1 Special prize up to 50 million VND; 5 First prizes, each worth 20 million VND; 5 Second prizes, each worth 15 million VND; 5 Third prizes, each worth 10 million VND; 10 Encouragement prizes, each worth 5 million VND.

Based on the quantity and quality of the entries, the Organizing Committee will decide on the awards for each category and give out additional awards (if any), ensuring that the winning entries are of high quality and have a strong influence on social life.

In addition, there is a collective prize awarded to the unit with many high quality participating works, worth 20 million VND.

Contest entries should be sent by post or directly to the following address: Information and Communications Department - Central Committee of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Room 221, Quan Su Pagoda, 73 Quan Su Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City. Phone number: 0914.335.013;

Works submitted online will be sent to the email address: giaibaochiphatgiao2024@gmail.com.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lan-dau-tien-to-chuc-giai-bao-chi-ton-vinh-nguoi-lam-bao-trong-linh-vuc-truyen-thong-phat-giao-275414.html