• Two new categories announced for Excellence in Responsible Reporting.
• Submission of entries closes on February 29, 2024.

As part of its vital work on citizen security in the Eastern Caribbean, UNDP, through the CariSECURE 2.0 project, has joined with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) 35th NGC Caribbean Media Awards to recognise journalism excellence.

CariSECURE 2.0 (Strengthening Evidence-Based Decision Making for Citizen Security in the Caribbean) is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to improve youth crime and violence policy-making and programming in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean through the use of quality, comparable and reliable national citizen security information, and aligns closely with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5: Gender Equality; and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

CariSECURE 2.0 is taking an innovative approach in line with the project’s objectives by partnering with the CBU to recognize Excellence in Responsible Reporting in two new categories: Youth Involvement in Crime and Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

Submitted news stories should demonstrate balanced and well-sourced insight on issues of youth involvement in crime in Barbados, Grenada, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, or a human-rights based approach to reporting or raising awareness of trafficking in persons (TIP) in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Lucia, or Trinidad and Tobago, across print, television, radio, or digital platforms.

Highlighting a regional media assessment currently being undertaken by CariSECURE 2.0, Limya Eltayeb, Resident Representative of UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean noted, “The media has unparalleled ability to build public awareness, mobilise citizens and influence policy. Doing so ethically and responsibly is critical so that people better understand crime and violence from the perspective of human rights and social justice. By providing recognition and training for Caribbean journalists, CARISECURE 2.0 aims to enhance the media's capacity to deliver data-driven, balanced and insightful reporting – especially in areas of youth involvement in crime and trafficking, to ensure vulnerable individuals are not further victimized."

In welcoming the new partnership with CariSECURE 2.0, CBU President, Dr. Claire Grant, recognised the project’s commitment to working with the CBU in its emphasis on Caribbean news professionals providing accurate and relevant information throughout the region.  She highlighted that, “As the premier media content competition in the region, the CMAs shine a spotlight on the important themes highlighted in the award-winning entries as well as the critical work by indigenous media dedicated to serving Caribbean audiences at home and in the diaspora.”

For more than three decades, the CBU has presented its Awards to showcase outstanding work by regional media. This year the title sponsor is the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC). The NGC CBU Awards Gala will be transmitted live on broadcast and digital platforms on August 13 from Belize.  

Full information on the criteria for the new categories and how to enter the competition can be found at https://www.caribroadcastunion.org/cbu-events/cma/. Fee waivers for submissions to CariSECURE 2.0 categories will be considered upon request, providing an opportunity for broader participation and recognition. Submission of entries closes on February 29, 2024.

Media queries: Denyce Blackman - denyce.blackman@undp.org