Media Peace Award finalists to screen on Triangle Television

Early indicators of criminality, the struggle of lower income families, a tourist's marae experience, and teenagers living with cancer are among the tough subjects tackled by the Media Peace Awards television and film finalists to be screened on Triangle Television.

Triangle Television is to screen five of the six programmes that have been judged finalists in this year's Media Peace Awards. A selection of the outstanding programmes is scheduled to screen on November 8, 9 and 10 (times shown below).

The themes of the finalists in the media professionals section of the awards are the myths surrounding abortion, drama and troubled teens and early indicators of criminality. The themes of the student finalists include the struggle of lower-income families, a tourist's marae experience and the work of Canteen.

The Media Peace Awards, organised by The Peace Foundation, are in their 20th year and are categorised into television and film, radio, print, internet and public relations. There is a special section for students within the television and film, radio and print categories.

This year the awards attracted 93 entries. Triangle Television chief executive officer Jim Blackman says: "The finalists in these awards inevitably deal with challenging issues in an enlightening and sensitive way that contributes to the education of the wider community and, in some cases, alters their perception of problems, events and situations.

"Triangle Television is delighted to give air time to these programmes. We reach the viewing audience of wider Auckland who often don't get the opportunity to see programmes like these on mainstream television."

Finalists: TV/Film - media professionals Rachel Stace & Felicity Morgan-Rhind* The Hardest Decision - myths surrounding abortion (on Triangle at 9pm on 8 November) Michele Fantl (MF Films)* Make or Break - drama and troubled teens (on Triangle at 9.45pm on 10 November) Adam Hollingworth (TVNZ) It's About Time - early indicators of criminality (on Triangle at 9.45pm on 9 November)

Finalists: TV/Film - student Luke Wheeler (Unitec) Not Too Bad - the struggle of lower income families and the need for acceptance and support Chelsea Winstanley (AUT) Whakangahau - tourist marae experience (on Triangle at 9.30pm on 10 November) Abby Brown (AUT) Bandannas - work of Canteen & a female patient (on Triangle at 9.30pm on 9 November) Awards organiser and Peace Foundation director Marion Hancock says the awards were designed to encourage people to use the media to address issues in order to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. Twenty years ago the awards were viewed as somewhat fringe, she says, but have increased in mana and prestige to the point where today they are "tremendously rewarding" for all concerned.

"The media is a powerful tool that can effectively educate people about underlying issues, especially situations that many of us would not meet in our day-to-day lives."

Winners will be announced at a special function to be held at Auckland's Maidment Theatre on Wednesday, November 12 at 7.30pm. Dr Marilyn Waring will be guest speaker, talking on links between media and peace, and the evening will be hosted by television broadcasters Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell.

This year's awards night will have a celebratory theme, with patron Sir Paul Reeves a keynote speaker. In a symbolic gesture, past Media Peace Award winners, film-maker and writer Peter Wells and Metro editor Nicola Legat, will hand lighted candles to two of this year's student winners.

A third of this year's entries were from students, the highest proportion in the awards' history and an achievement Marion Hancock finds heartening.

"It shows that at a time when, presumably, these students are at a formative point in their professional careers, they are putting thought into issues surrounding peace," Ms Hancock says. "And this year, more than ever, entrants put effort into examining solutions as well as identifying problems."

A special 20th anniversary Media Peace Awards booklet has been produced, which includes insights from previous winners - many of whom have gone on to become influential journalists or filmmakers. It will be available on the awards night

* Screened as TV3 'Inside NZ'

Triangle Television is Auckland's only regional, non-commercial television station and has operated as a public broadcaster to Greater Auckland since August 1 1998. The channel screens a mix of regional-access television with international news and information programmes. It is non-profit making and operates with no funding from NZ On Air. Triangle broadcasts 24 hours daily from UHF channel 41.

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