Enhancing the Impact of Citizen-Led Transparency Initiatives for Good Governance (ETI) Project
Blogging competition 2014
Competition guidelines
Who can participate
Seasoned and aspiring bloggers in the Philippines interested in good governance reforms and initiatives, particularly in strengthening citizen monitoring of local government performance.
The following are NOT allowed to join the blogging competition:
- ANSA EAP, PTF, MBC-CAC project staff, secretariat members, interns, and volunteers. (NOTE: CAC affiliates or members MAY join the competition provided that they will not be featuring or writing about any project or initiative funded under the ETI project)
- Staff, partners, volunteers of other ANSA EAP projects (like CMS, CPA, etc.)
- ETI project grantees (from Year 1 and 2)
Length and language
Up to 900 words. All submissions must be written in English.
Topics and guide questions
Submissions could focus on or address one (1) of the following topics or questions:
- How can ordinary citizens help advance good governace at the local level (i.e., barangay, municipal/city, province) by monitoring their local government’s programs/services?
- How can young people be enjoined to take a more active and sustained role in efforts to advance good governance and social accountability at the local level?
- How can the emerging social media empower people and communities to constructively engage their local officials and demand accountability around citizen rights?
Submission format
All submissions should be in the form of a blog entry. Applicants are not required to have an existing blog, but are encouraged to set up one using free blogging services (e.g., WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr) and continue posting on good governance and social accountability.
Submissions must be either previously unpublished or published in applicant’s own blog.
All applicants must send an email or letter of intent to join to: info@ansa-eap.net All emails should carry the subject line “ANSA-EAP blogging competition”.
For all unpublished work, blog entry should be attached to the email as an MSWord document. Files must be named after the author. For example, if the author’s name is Juan de la Cruz, file name should be “DE LA CRUZ-JUAN.doc”. For all previously published work, applicant should include a hyperlink to the blog post in her email or letter of intent to join.
An applicant is allowed to submit only one (1) blog entry.
All submissions are required to include sharing of personal experiences or reflections on actual initiatives by citizens or citizen groups related to the chosen topic. Submissions that only talk about issues, problems, or challenges in general terms, or limit their proposed solutions to what government can and should do will not be accepted.
Applicants are encouraged to include photos, videos, and/or hyperlinks to other blog posts to highlight their key messages and enhance overall readability of their blog entries. Submission should include proper citations if such materials were not created by the author.
Deadline for submissions
15 August 2014 (Friday), 5 pm
Judging criteria
A panel of judges (to be announced later) will rate all qualified entries based on these criteria:
- Experience or insights presented (must be timely, compelling, inspiring)
- Writing style (must use simple language, informative and interactive)
- Use of audio-visual/graphic materials and hyperlinks (to complement text)
- Ability to evoke response from readers (in the form of substantive comments)
- Adherence to the word limit (submissions above 900 words will not be considered)
Announcement of winners and prizes
Names of winners will be posted in the ANSA EAP website on 01 September 2014. There will only be three (3) top winners (regardless of their chosen topic, refer to the section on “Topics and guide questions” above) who will be awarded with the following cash prizes during the final knowledge sharing workshop of the ETI Project grantees (latter half of September 2014):
First place – Php 15,000
Second place – PhP 10,000
Third place – Php 5,000
Special winners may be announced and awarded depending on availability of prizes from co-hosting organizations or donors. All winning entries will be published in ANSA EAP’s Voices.
