...the energetic journalist

MB's energy reporter wins ASEAN Journalism Award

 

Manila Bulletin

February 19, 2011

 

MB’s energy reporter Myrna M. Velasco (L) poses at the Green Technology Awards sponsored by German firm Siemens AG for ASEAN professional journalists during ceremonies held in Singapore last Feb. 14, 2011.

SINGAPORE – Manila Bulletin’s energy reporter, Myrna M. Velasco, has won one of the coveted awards in the Green Technology Journalism Awards sponsored by German firm Siemens AG for ASEAN professional journalists which was conferred last February 14 at the Conrad Centennial Hotel here.

Velasco was declared merit winner in the “Energy Efficiency Category” for her article-critique on the Philippines’ renewable energy policy, entitled: “The country’s renewable energy ambition: Fact or Fiction?”

With her winning piece, she joined the roll of other winners from leading publications in the ASEAN region, such as those from The Star of Malaysia; Singapore’s Straits Times; The Jakarta Globe;
Media Indonesia; as well as magazine publications like Newsbreak (Philippines); Vietnam Investment Review; and Thailand’s Engineering Today.

The winning articles have been chosen based on the journalists’ grasp and explanation of the subject matter; display of adequate research and analytical ability; as well as on the style of writing and presentation of ideas.

Apart from pre-qualification at country-levels, the winning entries were comprehensively chosen by a panel of international judges headed by Dr. Constantin Birnstiel, head of Corporate Communications at Siemens AG’s headquarters in Munich.

The approximately 200 entries considered in the pre-qualification process came from a wide spectrum of media outlets – from the mainstream news dailies and magazines from eight ASEAN countries, the contest-organizers have announced in a press statement. Winning entries were also chosen from the rank of undergraduate students under the young journalists’ category.

“We were very impressed with the quality of journalism displayed by the media in this region. The enthusiasm shown by journalists and editors toward our award program proves that sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in this part of the world – it has grown to become a real and pressing issue in both growing and developed economies,” said Mr. Lothar Herrmann CEO of Siemens Pte. Ltd. Singapore and CEO of Siemens ASEAN.

During the awarding rites, Siemens AG Chief Sustainability Officer and Member of the Managing Board Barbara Kux noted that the launch of the journalism award in ASEAN “is part of our effort to facilitate a deeper awareness of the global green transformation and appreciation for the profound effects of the world’s megatrends.”

She added that for Siemens, “sustainability means acting responsibly on behalf of future generations to achieve economic, environmental and social progress.”