PPI to award outstanding community newspapers

CEBU, Philippines - In celebration of 14 years of excellence in community journalism, the Civic Journalism Community Press Awards will once again pay tribute to outstanding regional publications that have shown exemplary work in editing, editorial, science and environment reporting, business and economic reporting, and photojournalism in 2009.

The annual awards program will be the highlight of the Philippine Press Institute’s 14th National Press Forum “Assessing the 2010 Automated Elections” and Annual Membership Meeting from June 23 to 25 at the Diamond Hotel Philippines. This is the annual gathering of publishers and editors of PPI member-publications who will discuss media issues and industry concerns.

Since 2005, when the Konrad Adeneur Foundation ended its support, the awards program has been undertaken solely by the PPI. In 2008, The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (TCCEC) began its support to the awards with Civic Journalism as the framework. This is in line with the training programs on Civic Journalism which, among other things, seek to promote journalism as a medium of community feedback and participation.

As Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) manages and oversees the awards program.

The nominees are (Daily Category) Sun.Star Pampanga - City of San Fernando, Punto! Central Visayas - City of San Fernando, Sun.Star Cebu - Cebu City, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro - Cagayan de Oro City, Sun.Star Davao - Davao City, The FREEMAN - Cebu City, Cebu Daily News - Cebu City and Mindanao Times - Davao City; (Weekly Category) Baguio Midland Courier - Baguio City, MetroPost - Dumaguete City, Sun.Star (Davao) Weekend - Davao City, The Ilocos Times - Laoag City, and The Bohol Chronicle - Tagbilaran City.

This year’s board of judges is composed of: Augusto B. Villanueva of the Journal Group of Publications as chairman, Joy C. delos Reyes of Malaya, Luz Rimban of the Univesity of the Philippines’ Department of Journalism, Rolando A. Inciong of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Evelyn M. del Rosario of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

The cash prizes for the winners are yearly provided by Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, Journal Group of Publications, and Manila Standard Today. Each winner will also receive a trophy.

This year’s guest of honor and keynote speaker is Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, Court Administrator and Spokesperson of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Atty. Marquez will speak about freedom in the new judiciary environment. - THE FREEMAN