The Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) has invited entries in 31 categories for the 23rd edition of the award first held in 1992. The works are those produced and published in 2013. Eighteen of the categories are in print journalism, six each in broadcasting and advertising and one that cuts across all media including online.
The Print Journalism categories are: Agriculture Reporting, Business Reporting, Child Friendly Reporting, Child Friendly Media, Development Reporting, Editorial Writing, Editorial Integrity, Editorial Cartooning, Editor of the Year, Health Reporting, Informed Commentary, Insurance Reporting, Judicial Reporting, Political Reporting, Sports Reporting, Photography, Telecoms Reporting, and Newspaper of the year
Broadcast: Radio Drama, Radio Reporting, Radio Presenting, Television Drama, Television Documentary, and Television Reporting
Advertising:Press Advertising (Consumer Goods), Press Advertising (Services), Radio Commercial (Consumer Goods), Radio Commercial (services), Television Commercial (consumer Goods), and Television Commercial (services).
The Cross media category is the Investigative Reporter of the Year.
Entries in the Reporting categoriesshould conform to DAME’s ABCADER principle of: Accuracy, Balance, Contextual Analysis, Depth of Research/Investigation, Engaging use of language, and Relevance of subject.
Entries in the Commentary category (Editorial Writing and Informed Commentary) will be judged on the basis of Subject, Substance, Significance, Structure, Style and Size. Works to be entered for this category must therefore have this essential sextet.
Entries in the Advertising category should be works that satisfy the AIDA principle of attracting Attention, stimulating Interest, Desireand urging Actionat the end of the process.
All entries are expected to be marked 23rd DAME and sent to 9, James Robertson Street, Surulere, or by email to dameawards.com. Media organizations based in the north can send theirs through the Nigerian Press Council Office at 26, Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
All entries are to be submitted in triplicate. Print Journalism entries should have an original newspaper clip of the work being presented. Broadcast categories should have inserts produced on CDs, whilst Advertising entries should be grouped in categories on individual CDs. A one page profile of the author/organization; the author’s recent photograph/corporate logo; and a one-page cover letter, explaining the genesis of the submitted work, the challenges (if any) in getting the job done, and how the work differs from similar efforts on the subject should accompany the entries. A maximum of 3 entries per person/agency is allowed for each category. Series adverts on the same subject will be counted as one.
A work can only be entered in ONE category. Also, if a newspaper story involves more than three individuals, it should be submitted in the name of the media organization to which those individuals are affiliated.
Any significant challenge to the honesty, accuracy or fairness of an entry such as published rejoinders, corrections and retractions, should be addressed in the cover letter. Closing date is August 8.
First held in 1992, DAME is a not-for-profit trust established to enhance professionalism in the Nigerian media. Apart from the 22 uninterrupted annual awards presentations to date, it holds periodic trainings for media professionals.
