Community Group Launches Drugs Media Awards

Drug education in schools and the real price of underage drinking are the two themes that take centre stage in the sixth annual “Let’s Talk About Drugs” National Media Awards competition.

The competition, aimed at both students and adults, is being launched this week with the support of the Health Service Executive, through Drugs.ie and County Dublin VEC.

According to organisers at the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs (G.B.R.D.), the aim of the “Lets Talk About Drugs” National Media Awards is to encourage discussion and debate in classrooms and homes across the country, around the issue of drugs in Ireland. Students, aspiring reporters, animators, film enthusiasts and those with an interest in the drugs situation, are being asked to research and create original media features.

The competition allows entrants to educate themselves and others about drugs and alcohol through cartoon strips, audio features, film, animated videos or newspaper articles. The winning submissions will be published or broadcast through print, online channels and community radio in May. Competition winners will also receive prizes of notebook computers and digital cameras.

Speaking of the launch of the 2012 “Let’s Talk About Drugs” National Media Awards, Phillip Keegan, Co-Ordinator with G.B.R.D., outlined the purpose behind the educational initiative: “We want to encourage as many people as possible, up and down the country, to start thinking and talking about the drugs issue. For example, drug education in schools – are parents, teachers and communities doing enough? With cheap alcohol on sale in supermarkets and corner shops, is the proposed government policy on minimum pricing and banning the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and garages the only way of tackling the issue of underage drinking?”

He added: “Through researching these themes, every person who enters the Drugs National Media Awards will be educating themselves, and others, through their articles and features.”

This year’s competition falls into four age categories: age 12 – 14, age 15 – 17, age 18 – 20 and adults aged 21 and over.  The awards ceremony in May will feature Caroline Twohig from the fyi television programme on 3e and this year’s media partners are the Dublin People Group and Phoenix FM. Entry is free and the competition deadline for all submissions is Friday, March 30th.

The previous winner in the adult category for newspaper articles in 2011 and 2010, Emer Halpenny, who runs the Emer Halpenny School of Drama, gave some advice to people thinking of entering this year’s awards. She said:  “When you are interviewing people, think about your questions beforehand, but listen carefully to their answers and be prepared to go off in another angle. Who knows what way the story will turn.”

She added:  “Talk to friends and family about the competition and the topic – you would be amazed how many good ideas are out there from people who have no intention of writing about them. Don’t work from on-line research straight away, get out there and find an interesting angle, then use the internet to fill in gaps.”

Full competition details are available from the G.B.R.D. website at www.gbrd.ie or by phoning (01) - 8262364. The official hashtag on Twitter is #talkdrugs and the official Facebook page is Let’s Talk About Drugs – National Media Awards 2012.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Bohan at Engage Ireland (Tel: 01 8855162 / 087 65 39936 /office@engageireland.com)