Inquirer wins big at PPI’s community press awards

RECOGNITION Philippine Daily inquirer (PDI) associate publisher Juliet Javellana (left) receives the Inquirer’s trophy for Outstanding National Newspaper during the Philippine Press Institute’s Community Press Awards on April 25. With her is PDI Lifestyle assistant editor Pam Pastor who received the Outstanding NCR Journalist trophy during the same awards. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Press Institute (PPI), in cooperation with the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, awarded for the first time newspapers and journalists for their Outstanding Stories on Health Innovation and Collaboration.

“This pioneering accolade is testament to our collective commitment to elevate the discourse on health not just within our communities but across the nation,” said PPI chair and president Rolando Estabillo.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) received the award for Outstanding National Newspaper while PDI Lifestyle assistant editor and Super editor Pam Pastor won Outstanding NCR Journalist for the article “What caused the shortage of mental health medicine in PH?” which came out in the Lifestyle section in June 2023.

The trophies were given out at the Community Press Awards 2023 held at Century Park Hotel in Manila on April 25.

READ: Inquirer wins anew at Stallion media awards

‘True front-liners’

Journalists traveled from all over the country to attend the ceremony. PPI, also known as the national association of newspapers (and now also including online publications), has been honoring the work of local journalists since 1997 through the Community Press Awards.

“We continue to honor the work of the community press who have been struggling a lot even before the pandemic. It’s just fitting to recognize their excellent work in the communities where they belong,” said PPI executive director Ariel Sebellino.

Al Jazeera correspondent Jamela Alindogan, one of the event’s hosts, called community journalists “the true front-liners” in the fight for press freedom. “They have to live and breathe the stories on a daily basis.”

Panay News, a regional newspaper from Western Visayas, bagged three awards in the daily category—Best in Business and Economic Reporting, Best in Reporting on Migration Issues, and Best Editorial Page.

Rex Maestrocampo, editor in chief of the 43-year-old newspaper, said, “Panay News is grateful, humbled and inspired by these PPI awards. This recognition is a ‘shot in the arm’ for us to continue our work and further improve. It validates our mission to inform, educate and move the citizenry to action as envisioned by our founder, the late journalist Daniel G. Fajardo.”

‘First awardee’

Estabillo, the publisher of Manila Standard, said PPI acknowledges the evolving landscape of journalism, thus the addition of a new award category, Best News Website.

Sebellino said, “PPI’s groundbreaking project is the digitalization of community newspapers for them to have functioning websites. We realize that online publications play a pivotal role in giving information especially in the communities. Our objective is to counter disinformation and misinformation.”

Puerto Princesa City-based Palawan News won Best News Website in Luzon. Its publisher-editor Redempto Anda said: “It’s exciting because it’s the first time that PPI gave out this award. We’re on record as the first awardee. We don’t think anymore like we are a community newspaper. We actually think that we are a global newspaper and we would like to maximize our internet-based platforms to reach a wider audience.”

‘Better communities’

The PPI, which is celebrating its 60th year, is also focusing on creating media-citizen councils outside Metro Manila as part of its continued efforts in “keeping print alive.”

“They keep saying it’s dying. It’s still here. I want the public to rally behind good journalists. Good journalism contributes to building better communities and contributes to nation-building. I’d rather have a country without government but I cannot wake up one day in a nation without newspapers,” Sebellino said.

The awards’ other winners are: Best in Reporting on Migration Issues—Samar Weekly Express (Weekly); Best in Photojournalism—Sunstar Davao (Daily), The Northern Forum (Weekly); Best in Environmental Reporting—SunStar Davao (Daily), and Baguio Chronicle (Weekly); Best in Business and Economic Reporting—Central Mindanao Newswatch (Weekly); Best Editorial Page—Metro Post (Weekly); Best News Website—SunStar Cebu (Visayas), and Mindanao Times (Mindanao); and Best Edited Community Newspaper—The Freeman (Daily), and Sunday Punch (Weekly).