Bangkok--Oct 12--UNISBKK
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) will jointly inaugurate the Annual Journalism Award for Outstanding Reporting on Emergencies and Disasters on Wednesday13 October 2004?International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. 2004.
The award is to recognize outstanding reporting in the mass media on
Disaster Reduction in Asia and the Pacific, with a view to promoting increased awareness of these issues in the mainstream press. This year the focus country will be Thailand.
Three winners will be presented the award on the day of the IDNDR
Commemoration to be held at Room "A" UNCC, Bangkok on 13 October 2004. The
awards will be presented by H.E. Bhokin Bhalakula, Minister of the Interior, Royal Thai Government, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and Dr. Suvit Yodmani, Executive Director, Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC).
"The media in Thailand have been active in reporting disaster events through print, radio and television. Yet there is a need for more involvement in not just post-disaster reporting but also pre-disaster
reporting such as prevention and mitigation measures, preparedness of the
community to cope and deal with these disasters, early warning to the
public of any impending disaster events," said a UN spokesperson.
The Award will be in three categories: Print, Radio and Television.
Further three certificates of recognition will be presented within the same
categories.
Every year, in recognition of the annual tragic loss of lives and severe socio-economic impacts caused by natural disasters, the United Nations commemorates the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October. This year's theme focuses: "Learning to live
with risk".
Note to Editors: You or your representative are invited to attend the
observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on Wednesday, 13 October at 0930 hours at the UN Conference Centre (Conference Room A), Bangkok.
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: [email protected] End.
--InfoQuest (NT)--