VietNamNet Bridge – The National External Information Service Awards 2015, held by the Central Committee's Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service, officially started and called for submissions yesterday, Dec 17.

The National External Information Service Awards 2015, held by the Central Committee's Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service, officially started and called for submissions yesterday. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

The awards will honor the best works either in Vietnamese or foreign languages targeting foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.

It offers five sets of prizes for five categories of print media, radio broadcast, television broadcast, electronic media and photography.

Each category consists of first, second, third and fourth prizes.

Submissions must have been published or broadcast either by domestic or international licensed press agencies between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, according to Pham Van Linh, head of the organisation board.

Submitted articles must be accurate, persuasive, influential nationally and internationally and positively appreciated by the public.

They should promote the truthful image of the country, its people, history and culture as well as domestic realities and achievements during its national construction and defence, portraying a nation of peace, stability and active international integration.

Submissions should provide accurate and in-depth information of the Party's policies, laws and its stance on regional and international issues.

In particular, the organisation board looks for submissions that give informative value, gaining support from the international community for Viet Nam and creating favourable conditions for the country's national defence and construction cause.

Sumissions may be made by individuals or a group of persons living in or outside the country.

Submissions that have received other awards at other competitions may the still enter the National Information Service Awards 2015, but information of the prize type, the competition's organising board and time frame must be included in the submission dossier.

Deadline for submission is March 31. Viet Nam Television will chair the competition.

The awards presentation ceremony will take place in May next year.

The Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service plan to organise the event every year and extend the scope of the awards to other fields related to foreign information and communications, including programmes, events and publications.

The competition was first held in 2014, chaired by the Vietnam News Agency.

VNS