JIS Accepting Entries For Heritage Competitions

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is now accepting entries for its annual Heritage Essay, Poster and Photography Competitions.

Manager of Special Projects at the JIS and Chair of the Heritage Competition Planning Committee, Andrine Davidson, told JIS News that holding the competitions is one of the ways in which the agency encourages students to participate in the dialogue about the country’s heritage.

“The JIS Heritage Competitions provide a space for engagement with them on relevant issues. As the official information arm of the Government, connection with all demographics is important. Students should be given the opportunity to say something about our nation’s past, present and future,” she said.

The Essay competition targets children at the primary level who are between nine and 12 years of age.

They are required to write between 400 and 500 words on the theme ‘How would you like to see Jamaica in another 55 years’. Entries will be judged on relevance to the topic, originality, accuracy and analysis of research data, writing style and language skills.

Essay submissions should also include the Title Page and Bibliography or List of References. At least one of the references must be a JIS source. Essays should be submitted using the application form at www.jis.gov.jm.

The Poster competition is open to students in grades 7-13 at registered secondary schools.

They are required to design an 11×17-inch poster digitally or by illustration depicting ‘Jamaica 55’. Posters will be judged on interpretation of the topic, originality, neatness and presentation.

Meanwhile, the Photography competition, which is in its second year, targets students attending an accredited tertiary institution. They are required to submit a high-resolution-quality photograph depicting ‘Jamaica 55’. Entries will be judged on: originality, composition, technicality and impact.

“As Jamaica continues to celebrate its 55th year of Independence, we thought it would be appropriate to set topics that speak to the achievement of this milestone. It presents an opportunity for students to assess for themselves Jamaica’s achievements, and articulate the national aspirations,” Mrs. Davidson said.

Students will have until midnight on October 31, 2017 to submit their entries.

Prizes will be awarded to the top participants for all three competitions, courtesy of sponsorship from corporate Jamaica, including financial and tertiary institutions, technology companies and bookstores.

Relatives of JIS staff members are not eligible to participate, and students entering the competitions should ensure that they retain a copy of their work.

For further information, persons may call the JIS at 926-3590-4 Ext. 2137/2132, email: heritagephoto@jis.gov.jm or heritageposter@jis.gov.jm or heritageessay@jis.gov.jm.