FILE PHOTO: Protest against the so-called drug war. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 19 journalists have been selected for the first batch of media fellows for the humane drug policy 2023.
The Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI) on Wednesday said the fellows were chosen from a large pool of applicants nationwide. The chosen journalists will undergo training in covering issues surrounding drugs, drug use, drug policies, and related issues with the aim of putting an end to stigma and harm for people whose lives include drugs.
The media fellows are the following:
1. Karlston Lapniten
Multimedia Journalist
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cordillera Administrative Region
2. Liana Apostol
Freelance Journalist
Metro Manila and Pampanga
3. Carmela Reyes-Estrope
News Correspondent, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bulacan
Editor-in-Chief, News Core, Bulacan
4. Mike Navallo
Reporter
ABS-CBN News, Metro Manila
5. Marc Jayson Cayabyab
Print Reporter
Philippine Star, Metro Manila
6. Jacob Lazaro
Reporter
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Metro Manila
7. Paul Icamina
Reporter
Malaya Business Insight, Metro Manila
8. Noel Talacay
Reporter
PTV4, Metro Manila
9. Faith Argosino
Multimedia Reporter
INQUIRER.net, Metro Manila
10. Rambo Talabong
Freelance Journalist, Metro Manila
11. Kaycee Valmonte
Reporter
Philstar Online, Metro Manila
12. Ghio Ong
Reporter
The Philippine Star, Metro Manila
13. Totel De Jesus
Freelance Writer/Editor, Metro Manila
14. Jinky Lou Tabor
News Stringer, GMA 7 Bicol Region and Basilan
Station Manager, Bicol Star Teleradyo, Catanduanes
15. Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Senior Reporter
Daily Guardian, Western Visayas Region
16. June Joseph Perez
News Anchor
Sibya TV, Cebu
17. Angelica Saniel
News Editor
MyTV Cebu, Region 7
18. Nef Luczon
Reporter/Regional Bureau Chief
Philippine News Agency, Northern Mindanao
19. Misel Miral-Galve
Radio Anchor & Special Projects Head
DXDC 621 RMN Davao, Davao City
“The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and policy,” DPRI lead convener Atty. Kristine Mendoza.
“This fellowship is a continuing conversation with the Fourth Estate to uphold journalistic integrity and ethics in ensuring that their reporting does no harm to people whose lives include drugs and instead empowers communities by amplifying their stories,” she added.
DPRI said the training would start on April 20, where fellows will also undergo coaching sessions with their fellow journalists, drug policy experts, and advocates until May 2023.
A seed grant will also be made available for data-gathering and publishing of their respective work.