Engineers in the spotlight for journalism awards
The engineers of Australia and the National Press Club are looking to highlight the best works in news of the last year that have focused on engineering.
The announcement:
The National Press Club of Australia is proud to announce the Engineers Australia Journalism Award for 2012 is now open and calls for entries. Sponsored by Engineers Australia, the aim of the award is to widen understanding and raise the profile of Engineering as a profession, and encourage the media to acknowledge the role of engineering and its diversity in key areas such as education, the environment, health, infrastructure, research and development and trade.
National Press Club Vice President, Ken Randall said, “Awareness of the vital role of engineers in our society has grown strongly in recent years, for many reasons, particularly those associated with the need for urgent action on climate change, water policy and infrastructure development.”
“These, in turn, point to our serious shortage of engineers and the state of the education system we expect to provide them.”
Engineers Australia and the National Press Club hope that this growing awareness will prompt many young Australians considering their career options to realise the exciting and important opportunities open to them in this profession.
Winners will be selected based on excellence in reporting, contribution to broadening awareness of engineering issues, originality, incisiveness, ethics, research and production will all be assessed. This is the fifth year the award is being offered. In 2011 the winner was Carlene Downie of Australian Dairy Farmer Rural Press. The award is being held now that the renovations of the Press Club are complete. The 2013 award will open soon.
Topics might include:
Water policy – including the adequacy of water infrastructure, the use of recycled water in industry and water capture and storage.
Climate change – including more action for renewable energy technologies, improvements in energy efficiency and setting emissions targets.
Infrastructure – including planning, funding and national coordination.
Education – including the loss of emphasis on mathematics and science in both primary and secondary schools.
Engineering skills shortages – producing enough Australian engineers.
Research and development, manufacturing, broadband, health and trade related to engineering may also be included.
The award is open to all journalists including freelance journalists, who have been resident in Australia and working as journalists between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012. Applications close: Friday March 29 2013and the Award will be presented at a National Australia Bank Address at the National Press Club of date to be confirmed.
For submission criteria please visit the website www.npc.org.au or call the club for further details.
Source: National Press Club of Australia media release.
