FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jakarta, June 27, 2011 – A number of print, television, radio and photo journalists that have been selected at the level of Southeast Asia and the Pacific were awarded the Life Awards. The award was presented at the event organized by the Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation) in collaboration with the Media Group, the Masima Group, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) at Goethe Haus, Jakarta, Monday (27 / 6).
The Life Awards are rewarded to journalists for their works that promote stories related to primary prevention of drug abuse and other risky behaviors such as casual sex. Their works were hoped to inspire and build public awareness about the dangers. In 2008, these awards were given on a national level but starting this year these awards are extended to journalists in the South East Asia and Pacific region with the theme “Drugs and Sex Among Teens: Facts on the Current Situation”.
“We recognize the role of mass media in disseminating information about the dangers of drugs and sex among teenagers. The award is given to the mass media journalists as a token of appreciation as well as incentives for them to jointly conduct awareness about the dangers of drugs and free sex among teenagers through the media “said President Director of Media Indonesia Luhur Lisa Schad.
At the award ceremony yesterday, The Life Awards give prizes worth $ 2,500 for first prize and $ 1,000 for the runner up. The winners were selected from a number of works that were published between the periods of 1 January 2010-25 April 2011. The members of the jury, chaired by Masmiar Mangiang (print media), included Ed Wray (photography), Kathy Quiano (television), and Eddy Harsono (radio). They made their selection on 169 candidates. A number of parties such as the Media Group, Masima Group, and Photo Pewarta Indonesia also took part in the event, ranging from promotion and selection process.
This year, The Life Awards selected seven winners: two for the categories of print media, two special awards for radio and one special award for the category of print media, photography, and television respectively. In addition, The Life Awards also gave two awards to foreign media – both of them newspapers.
Chevron and Telkomsel sponsored the event which was attended by representative from UNODC Gerry Lewis, YCAB CEO / Founder Veronica Colondam, as well as other invited guests from the corporate and media circles.
The Life Awards were initiated by YCAB when it began collaborating with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) program in 2003 and it was called the Journalism Award for print media. The following year, it expanded to giving awards to other categories including caricatures, photos, and print media and it was renamed as YCAB – UNIC Awards. In 2005, the applicants to get awarded in the photos and caricatures categories grew significantly and not only journalists, but also the wider communities.
“We hope the media play a key role in shaping public opinion and building awareness that can ultimately gave birth to collaborations between sectors to work together to prevent the danger of risky behavior particularly, drugs and free sex among teenagers” said Founder / CEO YCAB Veronica Colondam. She also expressed hope that these awards can motivate journalists to actively expose the sad results due to drug addiction and sex among teens through the media. As an organization that aims to enable independence amongst Indonesian teens, YCAB realize that drugs and free sex to be threats to today’s young generation.
The team’s findings Eradication Working Group on Drug Abuse National Education Department says as many as 70% of drug users in Indonesia are children of school age. As such, YCAB through one of its three pillars; the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (HeLP), continues to actively promote healthy lifestyles to keep teens from risky behaviors. YCAB besides providing capacity building in leadership development and entrepreneurship also provides material on Love, Sex, and Dating (LSD).
YCAB’s two other pillars are the House of Learning and Development (HoLD) and the Hands-on Operation for Entrepreneurship (HOpE) that provide education, vocational training, as well as economic assistance for young school dropouts, street children, and adolescents from underprivileged families.
“Media Group is very pleased to be working in the administration of The Life Awards. We will run this program periodically to move the mass media in conducting awareness about social issues in Indonesia through the work of journalism “said the Media Indonesia President Director Lisa Schad Luhur in closing.
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List of Names Award Recipients The Life Awards 2011
Category: Print Media
Winner: “Young Women in the Gaza Drugs, Tempted lure friends”
Authors: Erwin Dariyanto
Media: Tempo Magazine
Second Place: Not Easily Remove from Snare Drugs
Authors: Subroto
Media: Harian Republika
Special Awards: Removing Stigma in Villages Shelf
Authors: Agus Wahyuni
Media: Borneo Daily Tribune
Category: Radio
Special Awards I: The Sun Rising in Kampung Bali
Authors: Mohammad Irham
Media: Radio KBR68H
Special Recognition II: the smoke-circulation Drugs on Campus
Authors: Vitali Ridho
Media: Radio 101.4 TraxFM
Category: Photography
Special Awards I: The International Narcotics Syndicate
Photographer: Heru Haryono
Media: www.okezone.com
Category: Television
Special Recognition I: Drugs Street Children Face Blur
Author: Joshua Panggabean
Media: quiz
Category: Foreign Media
Awards I: New Approach at Drug Rehab Center
Type / Author: Zhang Yan
Media: China Daily
Awards II: Helping Drug Addicts
Type / Writer: Editorial
Media: Asahi Shimbun
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About Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa
Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa is an independent non-profit organization in Indonesia that was established in August 1999 and became a global organization in 2011 through YCAB Foundation. YCAB Foundation is headquartered in New York and is registered as a non-profit organizations that already have the facility of tax reductions (tax deductions) through section 501 (c) (3).
YCAB Foundation aims to establish independence in adolescents with a comprehensive development approach through the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (HELP), House of Learning and Development (HOLD), and Hands-on Operation for Entrepreneurship (HOPE).
For more information, please visit www.ycabfoundation.org
Linda Chalid
Development and Communications Division
YCAB Foundation
Tel: +62 21 5835 5000
Fax: +62 21 5835 5001