CB BureauIn an effort to recognize and honour outstanding achievements in the reporting on women’s issues, Diageo felicitates journalists through Women’s Empowerment (WE) Journalism Awards. Part of Diageo’s Plan W, the awards honour print, broadcast and online journalists across six categories and also chooses the medium of the year. This time, Ruhi Kandhari of Tehelka won the award for ‘print story of the year’ for her story how women pay the price for population control.Pearl Maria Forss of NewsAsia, Singapore, won the award for ‘best broadcast story’ for women fight back.‘Online story of the year’ award went to Australian freelancer Bec Zajac for his entry power and gender: how schools are taking a lead in the campaign to end violence against women.Zajac was also felicitated as the ‘best journalist of the year’. The award for ‘photo story of the year’ went to Altaf Qadri of Associated Press, India, for she sought good life in Delhi, but found trash. ‘Media title of the year’ went to Vogue India.
Each winning journalist received a cash prize of US$1,000, while the winning media title received a cash prize of US$3,000 to support reporting of women’s-empowerment initiatives.
‘Journalists are a powerful force whose reporting can compel people to sit up, take notice and create change. Through the awards, we honour and express our heartfelt gratitude to this brave group of individuals who work tirelessly to uncover stories about prevailing women’s-empowerment issues in our society which must be told,’ read the statement by Sam Fischer, president – Greater China and Asia, Diageo, in the company’s media release.
The winners were selected by three luminaries of journalism and social activism including Monique Villa, CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation, award-winning independent journalist Shaili Chopra, and Yan Mei, one of China’s leading media women and senior partner at Brunswick Group.
Submissions came from local, regional and international media platforms across 18 countries – Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Plan W is part of Diageo’s 2020 sustainability and responsibility targets that aim to build thriving communities. Diageo is committed to diversity of its own business, as well as growing the talents, skills and capability of the women who work within their value chain. Launched in 2012, Plan W’s goal is to empower two million women across all socio-economic profiles by 2017, giving them opportunities to learn and develop skills. Diageo claims in its media release that Plan W has empowered over 90,000 women while its positive ripple effect has reached over 450,000 beneficiaries.