Last Minute Advice As Deadline For Drugs Media Awards Fast Approaches

“Take the opportunity to tackle the hard issues” is the advice from last year’s winner of the “Let’s Talk About Drugs” National Media Awards, as the Friday 31st May closing date for the competition draws near.

Sarah Dillon, from Dominican College, Dublin won first prize in the 2012 “Let’s Talk About Drugs” National Media Awards for her short film “The Difference”. Now in its seventh year, this national drugs education competition for students and budding journalists has one week before the competition closes and participants are being encouraged to finish their projects and submit them before the May 31st deadline.

Students all over the country have been asked to explore the themes: “Alcohol and sport – who is the real winner?” or “Weed and health – are we making a hash of it?” through one of a range of formats: a newspaper article; video or animated feature; audio recording; cartoon or poster.

This year’s judging panel will include John O’ Mahony, News Editor of the Irish Examiner, Henry McKean from Newstalk 106-108fm and Caroline Twohig from the television channel, 3e with the overall winner, who will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 25th September, receiving a prize of €1,000. All category winners will also have their features either published or broadcast in the media.

Co-ordinated by the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs, the competition is free to enter and is supported by Drugs.ie, the HSE, The Department of Health, Crimestoppers and the Irish Examiner.

Philip Keegan, Co-Ordinator of the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs, said: “We’ve had a great response to this year’s competition with a very high standard of entries tackling the themes in so many different and creative ways that have undoubtedly already triggered discussion and debate in the classroom and at home. As many students start putting those finishing touches to their projects, we want to remind them that they’ve done the hard work and to now trust their efforts and send their submission in before Friday 31st of May.”

In partnership with Crimestoppers, a poster category has been added to the competition for 2013 centred on their freephone number, which is 1800 25 00 25. It is hoped that this poster design will encourage people who may have information on drug dealing, to pass on that information to Crimestoppers, confidentially.

At an awards ceremony in September, category winners across all ages will receive a tablet computer and a trophy. The four categories this year are: 12 to 14; 15 to 17; 18 to 20 and age 21 and over. Further details around the competition are available from drugs.ie/awards or facebook.com/Drugs.ie or from Twitter through @drugsdotie (or by searching Twitter using ‘#talkdrugs’).