The Japan Prize, the International Educational Program Contest of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), recently announced that NEWS5’s public affairs program USI (Under Special Investigation) was one of the selected entries vying for the coveted “The President of NHK Prize” trophy when the contest holds its awarding ceremony this October.

The documentary hosted by Paolo Bediones will compete against entries from China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Spain and the United States in the welfare education category. Out of 54 entries, USI’s “Floating School” episode made the cut at the said contest. According to the competition’s official site, the prestigious tilt aims to improve “the quality of educational programs around the world and contribute to the development and fostering of international understanding and cooperation.” The said USI episode, which featured a group of Manobo children who cross the Agusan marsh everyday to attend school, aired last June 10 as the show’s Season 10 opener.

USI is the 2010 KBP Golden Dove Awardee for Best Documentary Program and 2011 Catholic Mass Media Awardee for Best Special Coverage.

Since its launch last March 2010, NEWS5 has been on a winning streak in terms of viewership and recognitions. Earlier this year, NEWS5 helped propel TV5 towards being recognized as the Television Station of the Year by the Rotary Club of Manila’s RCM Journalism Awards. Apart from its impressive local wins, the country’s most aggressive news organization has also earned two nods at the prestigious New York Festivals TV and Film Awards last April–with Wanted – Child Special being a finalist at the Community Service Programs category and NEWS5 Debates – Hamon sa Pagbabago (A Challenge For Change) which was highly commended as part of the Politics category.