Local media workers who promote children's rights will be recognised by the Archdiocese in 2008.

The Archdiocesan Communications Commission (ACC) and the Media Association of Trinidad & Tobago have begun to promote the Lumen Media Awards 2007-2008 to national media houses.

The awards were officially launched last June. On Monday last (March 3) media representatives were invited to a luncheon meeting to promote the Church's first media awards. Venue was the refurbished Old Fire Station building, near the National Library.

In his remarks ACC chair and Vicar for Communications Msgr Cuthbert Alexander said the Church is always willing to work with journalists of every religious persuasion and sees the awards as Church working and supporting the local media. Information Minister Neil Parsanlal also brought greetings during his brief stay.

Theme for the Lumen Media Awards is Protecting Children's Basic Rights, which was last year's theme for the Pope's annual World Communications Day message.

Prizes will be awarded in the Print category for Best News Story, Best Feature Story and Best Editorial/Commentary; Photographic category – Best Editorial Cartoon, Best Page (design and layout), Best News Photograph and Best Feature Photograph; Television and Film category – Best News Story, Best Supporting News Video, Best Feature/Documentary, Best Supporting Feature Video and Best Editing; Radio category  – Best News Story, Best Radio Feature/Programme and Best On-Air Interview. A prize will also be awarded for Best Overall Entry.

Submissions must have been produced during the period June 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008. Closing date for entries is May 16. More information can be found at www.rcpos.org/mediaawards.

Meanwhile the process of restructuring Catholic media in the archdiocese continues with the formation of Catholic Media Services Ltd. (CAMSEL).

Archbishop Edward Gilbert announced in December last year plans to restructure Catholic Communications. Msgr Alexander took the opportunity to inform the media practitioners present at last Monday's meeting of some of the new arrangements.

Printing Services Limited (PSL), the limited liability company responsible for the production of Catholic News will become CAMSEL and the new entity will be responsible for print, electronic, new media (the Internet and related technology) public relations and information.

As part of the process of rationalisation of Catholic media, Catholic Communications Studio Ltd (CCS), which has produced video and audio presentations for the Church, will close and Trinity Communications Network (TCN) will begin to provide these services from April 2008.

A memorandum of understanding has been drawn up and a legal document outlining the outsourcing operation is expected to be signed in a few weeks' time

Msgr Alexander will manage the operations of CAMSEL. PSL board chairman, Richard Young, considered this restructuring inevitable and a golden opportunity to build something new to move Catholic communications forward. - RS