Nigeria Breweries Plc has announced call for entry in its 8th edition of the Nigerian Golden Pen Awards put together to celebrate and reward outstanding Nigerian Journalists.

Briefing journalists at the head office in Iganmu Lagos, Kufre Ekanem, Nigerian Breweries Corporate Affairs Adviser, explained that this year edition is set to reward journalists in three categories .The categories to be rewarded for the euight edition include the Golden Pen Reporter of the Year,  Golden Pen Photo Journalist of the Year and   Golden Pen Report of the Year.

He noted that the award was introduced to promote professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria. Acciording to him, the idea behind the initiative was  to reward such journalists who abide by the ethics of the journalism profession. 

Like the previous two editions, Ekanem disclosed that the theme of this year’s award remains Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development to help draw attention to critical issues of development in these areas. 

“In March 2014, we gathered here to announce plans for the 6th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award. That 2014 edition was the beginning of the expanded platform that draws attention to critical development areas by rewarding journalists who excel in reporting in themed areas,” he said.

The Corporate Affairs Adviser also stressed that the previous editions had strengthened the credibility of the awards because they have made it more inclusive and ensured an increased media buy-in. He therefore enjoined journalists to enter for the award by submitting their entries from June 28th until Friday, August 19th, 2016.

He also informed that an independent jury will then analyze the entries for their originality, news value, use of resources, credibility and factuality. “Other areas of interest would include info-graphics, lay out/headline, clarity and social responsibility. After the adjudication, a shortlist of nominees would be announced early in October 2016. The 8th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Awards Ceremony will hold on Friday October 28, 2016 where winners will be announced,” he said.

According to him, winners in the three categories will receive plaque, gift items and cash prizes with winner from the Pen reporter category to go home with N1m while report of the year and photojournalist to enjoy a largesse of N500,000 respectively. Besides, runners-up in the different categories will also be compensated with cash prize ranging from N200,000 and N300,000