Entries open for Responsible Drinking Media Awards

This is the second year of the awards, whose objective is to encourage journalists to use their individual approach and messaging influences to proactively gain traction with their readers and shape perceptions and behaviour around drunk driving, as well as other alcohol abuse-related issues such as under-age drinking, foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and binge drinking.

"Inform and raise consumer awareness"

Says Gerald Mahinda, MD of brandhouse, "brandhouse is deeply committed to responsible drinking and support various interventions driving this important message. The brandhouse Responsible Drinking Media Awards, the first initiative of its kind in the country, forms part of our ongoing efforts to inform and raise consumer awareness about the potentially devastating effects of alcohol abuse."

Journalists entering the awards will be judged on the following:

• Ability to highlight, profile and engage with the issues around responsible drinking
  
• Approach to the various campaigns (proactive/unique/relative)
  
• Level of support (balance between quality and frequency)
  
• Level of influence (creating awareness/challenging target audience/encouraging change)

Articles must have been published in South African media (print, broadcast, online) from 1 May 2011 until 30 April 2012. The deadline for entries is noon on 30 April 2012.

Categories

There will be three finalists per category:

• Journalist of the Year (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Magazine (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Newspaper (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Broadcast -Radio/TV (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Online (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Blog (Prize money of R10 000)
  
• Best Community (Prize money of R10 000)

For more, go to www.brandhouse.co.za.