This year the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) environment media award is focusing on the Pacific Year of the Dugong, calling upon Pacific media workers from throughout the region to submit their news items on Dugongs, Sea grasses and Marine life in general.
The Vision Pasifika Media award to recognise and pay tribute to Pacific reporters for their role in raising awareness on environment issues has expanded to include an online news category. There is also a special category for 2011 for news items submitted on the conservation of marine life of general.
"Dugongs and their habitats, the sea grasses are a great 
subject for news as they are amazing marine creatures that many of us Pacific islanders know very little about. The 2011 year of the dugong is an opportunity for us to learn more about these creatures and their role in our marine ecosystems," said Lui Bell, the Marine Species Officer of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
"We also understand that the dugong is not in every Pacific island country or territory, and that for some of our islands – sea grasses are not in abundance. Taking this into account we have a special category prize for the best news item in any genre submitted about conserving marine life in general."
Entries for the award must have been featured either online, on radio, television or in print, between 1 January to December 31, 2011. The deadline for entries to reach SPREP is 15 January, 2012, where they will be distributed to a judging panel which consists of a SPREP member, a regional media representative and an environmental NGO.
It is open to all Pacific island reporters working and residing in any of the SPREP island member countries or territories.
"This year we'd like to see more entries from throughout our region, including those who work in the radio genre," said Nanette Woonton, SPREP's Media and Public Relations Officer.
"We always receive strong interest and number of entries from Fiji for which we are always impressed by their level and amount of environment reports. We'd also like to encourage other Pacific island countries and territories to send in more entries."
For more information about dugongs and sea grasses to help provide you background with your news items, please visit: http://www.sprep.org/Biodiversity/PYoD/index.asp to obtain fact sheets.
Past Vision Pasifika Media Award winners are:
- 2009
- Mr. Anish Chand – Television and Best overall category
- Mr Moffat Mamu - Print
- Ms. Rachna Lal and Ms Kalpana Prasad – Journalism student
- 2010
- Ms. Rachna Nath – Television
- Mr Rajan Sami - Print
- Ms. Maggie Boyle – Journalism student,
- Wansolwara, Best overall category and special commemoration.
The Award is a partnership with the African Caribbean Multi Lateral Environment Agreement Project, funded by the European Union.