Inquirer again named Best Business News Source

Ejap Business Journalism Awards —PHOTO FROM EJAP PILIPINAS FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Daily Inquirer was named Best Business News Source at the 30th annual awards conferred by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap), earning the distinction for the sixth time in a row since the category was created in 2011.

Three Inquirer business reporters were also adjudged the best in their respective areas of assignment.

The Ejap award for best news source is given to media organizations whose reporters garnered the most number of awards for best coverage in their beats. The Inquirer and Business Mirror tied for the category in this year’s awards by Ejap, the umbrella organization of business journalists in the country, the majority of them in print.

Best coverage

Inquirer reporters Karl R. Ocampo won her first Ejap award for best coverage of the agriculture and mining sectors, Ben O. de Vera was named best finance beat reporter, while Miguel R. Camus was recognized as the best in the telecommunications and transport beat.

Ocampo, a Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), joined the Inquirer in 2015 as a social media specialist.

This is the seventh year that De Vera has won awards from Ejap. He was also recognized for his coverage of trade and industry and macroeconomics. A graduate of The Manila Times School of Journalism, De Vera has been an Inquirer reporter for seven years.

Camus won his sixth Ejap award. A UST graduate with a bachelor of science degree in economics, Camus has been a reporter for 13 years. He earlier covered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Philippine Stock Exchange and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The Inquirer’s business section is led by Tina Arceo-Dumlao (business editor), Daxim L. Lucas (business news editor), Doris Dumlao-Abadilla (business features editor) and Ira Pedrasa (desk editor).

Other awardees

The other winners in the 2021 Ejap awards were Business Mirror’s Lenie Lectura (energy sector), Cai Ordinario (macroeconomy and features), Philippine Star’s Iris Gonzales (capital markets) and Louella Desiderio (trade) and Business World’s Luz Wendy Noble (banking).

The Ejap awards are supported by Ayala Corp. This year’s panel of judges is composed of Milwida Guevara (chair), Philippine Electricity Market Corp. former president Oscar Ala, economics professor Fernando Aldaba, former Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., Finance Assistant Secretary Teresa Habitan, Former SEC Commissioner Gerard Lukban, Astris Finance LLC country representative Michael Arthur Sagcal, former Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano and Monetary Board Member Bruce Tolentino.

—KARL R. OCAMPO