Dili, May 23, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Timor-Leste Press Council held a press conference to announce the timeline for journalists participating in the upcoming competition in Balibo Five, scheduled for October 16, 2025, as part of National Press Freedom Day. The conference took place at the Press Council’s hall in Dili.
During the conference, President of the Press Council, Otelio Ote, officially announced the 2025 Media Awards, which are presented annually on National Press Freedom Day, October 16, to recognize outstanding journalism.
“This year, we will maintain the same award categories as last year, with a slight difference. This year, the Balibo Five Award, previously managed by the Timor-Leste Journalists Association (AJTL), will now be handed over to the Press Council. This is because both the Press Council and AJTL agree that the Balibo Five Award carries a high symbolic value and should be properly managed by the Press Council,” said Otelio Ote.
He further outlined the eligibility criteria for the competition: participants must be Timorese citizens with a valid professional journalist card issued by the Press Council. Submitted journalistic works must have already been published in the media outlet where the journalist works. Journalists must also be active in the media and in coverage areas.
The competition categories for the event in Balibo Five are as follows:
- The Best of the Best Award
- Adelino Gomes Award – for outstanding Portuguese-language reporting
- Francisco Borja da Costa Award – for journalists writing on compelling human-interest stories
- Greatsakelestore Award – for excellence in electronic journalism
- Bernardino Gomes Award – for high-quality photojournalism
“We officially open the submission period for this year’s journalist award competition. The Press Council, in collaboration with AJTL, invites all journalists and media outlets to encourage participation and submit their works. The event schedule will be published through the Press Council’s portal. We encourage all media owners to support their journalists in seizing this opportunity,” President Otelio Ote reaffirmed.
He emphasized the importance of the awards in recognizing and strengthening Timorese journalists who demonstrate professionalism and quality in their work. The award not only honors individual journalists but also acknowledges the media institutions they represent.
Acasio Pinto from the Timor-Leste Journalists Association (AJTL) explained that AJTL decided to transfer the Balibo Five Award to the Press Council because of its historical significance and the potential to elevate the award’s stature.
“After extensive discussions, we decided to hand over the Balibo Five Award to the Press Council, as it is better positioned to uphold its value and honor the legacy of the five journalists who died in Balibo. Their work helped foster stronger ties between Timor-Leste and Australia. We honor them every year through the Balibo Five commemoration,” said Acasio Pinto.
He added that AJTL continues to play a vital role in supporting the Press Council, and the decision to hand over the award was made through thorough consultation between the two organizations.
Report: Domingas
Photo: Domingas