SM Group launches media awards for ‘Yolanda’ coverage

sm-foundation.org

MANILA, Philippines—The SM Foundation Inc. has launched the S.U.P.E.R. Awards for Media to pay tribute to, and recognize the tenacity and unparalleled courage of the members of the industry who staked their lives while covering the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in November last year.

SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI), the socio-civic arm of the SM group of companies, noted that the bravery and sheer commitment of members of the media to their chosen profession immediately brought the whole world together in response to the cry of millions of victims left homeless and in dire need of aid and assistance.

“In doing so, some media people sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. While they knew of the potential danger that the typhoon was bringing before it hit the country, they persisted and covered the event. We now want to honor the select men and women of media for stepping forward with such dedication and unparalleled courage,” Debbie Sy, SMFI executive director, said.

S.U.P.E.R. stands for Salute to Unparalleled People, Endeavors and Resources. The SM Group strongly supports initiatives that are aligned with its advocacy of “People Helping People.”

The awarding ceremonies will be held on May 19 at the Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center Function Rooms 1 and 2, Pasay City, from 5:30 p.m. onwards. The event is by invitation only.

The S.U.P.E.R. Awards for Media will give due recognition to the extraordinary efforts of the men and women who risked all amid extreme circumstances to keep the public informed and updated about the imminent arrival of the typhoon so those in its path can prepare and evacuate when necessary; share their experience and relay to the public the unprecedented strength of Super Typhoon Yolanda; and immediately show images of the death and destruction it caused. They became instrumental in calling all the nations to provide not just immediate relief but also much needed funds, resources and technology to help rebuild lives, towns and cities.

Nominations from media organizations and the trimedia entities (print, radio and television) were accepted. The deadline for the submission of nominations was on April 23.

Criteria for nominations include the following: Nominees have to be legitimate members of a press entity; they were present and covered the extreme event at the time typhoon signals 3 and 4 were raised; they were present and covered the events in such areas when the super typhoon made landfall; and they had to overcome significant obstacles just to be able to file their stories, be they in print, online, television or radio broadcast.