The awardees of the first CAMSEL/MATT Lumen Media Awards were heralded last Sunday night, with a challenge from the feature speaker for journalists to continue highlighting child rights and protection.

“Where there is darkness, light is needed. The media can assist to illuminate this present darkness,” said attorney-at-law, orator and former journalist Deborah Jean-Baptiste-Samuel.  She delivered the keynote address on the theme of the Lumen Media Awards 2007-2008, Protecting Children’s Basic Rights.

Jean-Baptiste-Samuel said the media have the power to enlighten and illuminate in the area of child protection, noting “our most valuable resource is not oil and natural gas, but the children of our nation”.

The media has the power, and can be empowered, to perform a major role in the awareness and policing of the protection of our nation’s children, she said. “Legislation is welcome, but the law alone cannot protect the welfare of children, the law does not change the way people think, or their behaviour. The media can do that, it can influence the way people think”.

Deborah Jean-Baptiste Samuel, Jones P Madeira and MATT President Joanne Briggs at last Sunday’s media awards function.

Jean-Baptiste-Samuel said the media can detect, respond in an emergency, investigate, expose, arrest and offer prevention strategies. “The media can work in tandem to enlighten and empower decision-makers, arms of government, parents, caregivers, and the public.

“In its function to illuminate, to shed light on a subject and provide light in a dark place, the media can mobilise the public, hold sustained campaigns, expose dereliction of duty, and transform minds”.

Vicar for Communications and head of Catholic Media Services Limited (CAMSEL),  Msgr Cuthbert Alexander, and Joanne Briggs, president of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago, individually welcomed guests to the historic first award ceremony at the Assumption Church Hall, Maraval.

After a musical interlude by pannist Johann Chuckaree, Archbishop Edward Gilbert gave his remarks. He said it was important for the archdiocese to collaborate with the media, noting that many of the Church’s services are unknown. He said society needs “to put back into the vocabulary the word ‘truth’” and the media has a role to play to make that a reality.

“Veteran” journalist Jones P Madeira, in his remarks as chief judge, congratulated CAMSEL and MATT for instituting the Lumen Awards. The panel of judges comprised Madeira, Wesley Gibbings, Alfred Aguiton, and Keith Subero.

Master of ceremonies Martin De Silva then announced the category winners.

Best News Photograph, titled “I want to go to school”, was won by Trevor Watson of the Trinidad Express.

In the Print category, Guardian’s Shaliza Hassanali won Best News Story, for “Teenaged Pregnancy”. Trinidad Express’ Rhea-Simone Auguste - who once wrote for Vision - took the Best Feature Story for “From Parent to Pimp”, while Best Editorial/Commentary category was won by Zeeska Lee of COSTAATT for “Learning Disabilities”.

There were three winners overall in the Television and Film category. Win TV’s Sheldon Yearwood took the Best Feature with “Baby O’s Story”. “A Long Way Home” by UWI’s Graeme Suite took two awards, Best Documentary and Best Editing.

Another two awards, Best News and Best Supporting News, went to “Young Hearts”, produced by TGN Media, the graduate group of The Good News Program.

TGN Media was represented by Maureen Arneaud and Anthony Beharrysingh, president and vice president respectively of the Social Justice Group of Trinidad and Tobago, which runs TGN Media.

Madeira announced during his remarks that since there were no entrants for the Radio category, there were no winners. He noted that a few categories received single entries. Msgr Alexander later announced that a decision was taken by the judges not to elect a Best Overall Entry.

He gave general information on the theme for next year’s Lumen Media Award, which will be based on the Pope’s World Communication Day 2008 message.

For more information on this year’s Lumen Media Awards visit http://lumen.rcpos.org - RS