PPI, Coke to name civic journalism awardees

Thirteen outstanding community newspapers from all over the country have been chosen as finalists of the Philippine Press Institute–The Coca-Cola Export Corp. 2010 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards. The awards aim to recognize community papers excelling in the field of civic journalism.

Five awards under the weekly and daily categories are given to the best of the lot. These awards are: Best in Business and Economic Reporting, Best in Science and Environmental Reporting, Best in Photojournalism, Best Editorial Page and Best Edited Paper. Under the Daily Category, the finalists are Sun.Star Cebu (Cebu City), Cebu Daily News (Cebu City), The Freeman (Cebu City), Mindanao Daily Mirror (Davao City), Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro (Cagayan de Oro City) and Sun.Star Davao (Davao City).

The finalists for the Weekly Category are: Mabuhay (Bulacan), Baguio Midland Courier (Baguio City), The Bohol Chronicle (Tagbilaran City), West Leyte Weekly Express (Ormoc City), Edge Davao (Davao City), The Mindanao Observer (Dipolog City) and The Mindanao Cross (Cotabato City). Trophies and cash prizes are provided yearly by the six dailies that constitute the PPI Board, namely, Malaya, Manila Standard Today, The Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld and Philippine Journal.

The keynote speech in the awards ceremony on Thursday, June 23, will be given by Retired Justice of the Supreme Court Vicente V. Mendoza who will speak on “Courts and the Press as Partners for Good Government.” The Community Press Awards is the highlight of the two-day 15th National Press Forum “Reporting Governance and Human Rights” and Annual Membership Meeting. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will give the keynote address on Day 1, today.

Also presenting papers today are Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III on New Directions in Good Governance and the Commission on Human Rights on New Directions in Human Rights. Lawyer Harry Roque Jr. will serve as reactor. Topics for the industry forum on the second day are Re-wiring Newspapers in the Digital Age, Social Media as a Change Agent, Updates on the Maguindanao Massacre and Media Killings, Press Council: The Cebu Experience, The Bright Child Campaign and Assessment Report on Civic Journalism.

This is also the third year of partnership with The Coca-Cola Export Corp. Its president Guillermo Aponte will give the awards to the winners.

The event is sponsored in part by Mang Inasal, GMA Network, Inc., Petron, Philex Mining, SM Retail, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Manila Ocean Park, Unilever Philippines, Purefoods, Citibank, Sun Cellular, and Traders Hotel Manila. The United Print Media Group is the official print media partner.