Sun.Star CDO finalist in Civic Journ awards

Monday, June 13, 2011

SUN.STAR Cagayan de Oro, a member of the Sun.Star network of community newspapers, has been judged as finalist in the Philippine Press Institute – The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (PPI-TCCEC) 2010 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards.

The PPI-TCCEC Civic Journalism Community Press Awards aims to recognize community papers – weekly and dailies -- that excel in the field of civic journalism.

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This year, the awarding of the Best in Business and Economic Reporting, Best in Science and Environmental Reporting, Best in Photojournalism, Best Editorial Page and Best Edited Paper awards is slated on June 23 at the Traders Hotel Manila.

In 2009, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro bagged the Best in Photojournalism award. It also previously won the Best in Business and Economic Reporting award.

Aside from Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Davao are also chosen as finalists in the PPI-TCCEC Civic Journalism Community Press Awards under the Daily Category.

Other finalists in the Daily Category are Cebu Daily News (Cebu City), The Freeman (Cebu City) and Mindanao Daily Mirror (Davao City).

Under the weekly category, the finalists include 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).

The winners of the PPI-TCCEC Civic Journalism Community Press Awards will receive trophies and cash prizes that are provided yearly by the six major dailies that constitute the PPI Board, namely Malaya, Manila Standard Today, The Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld and Philippine Journal.

On PPI's third year of partnership with The Coca-Cola Export Corporation, no less than its president, Guillermo Aponte, will give the awards to the winners which will only be announced during the ceremony.

Starting this year, the TCCEC supports the three-year sustainability program on "Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism" that includes the holding of National Press Forum and Community Press Awards.

Invited as keynote speaker during the awarding ceremony is Hon. Vicente V. Mendoza, retired justice of the Supreme Court, who will speak on "The Courts and the Press as Partners in Good Government."

A tribute to the late veteran journalist and newspaperman, Jose Leetai Pavia, will also be held during the event.

Pavia was PPI executive director from 2001 to 2010. He was also publisher and editor of multi-awarded community newspaper Mabuhay.

The Community Press Awards serves as the highlight of the two-day 15th National Press Forum "Reporting Governance and Human Rights" and Annual Membership Meeting, an annual gathering of publishers and editors of member-publications to discuss and assess media issues and industry concerns.

On the first day of the forum, Secretary Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice will give the keynote address.

De Lima is a staunch advocate of human rights and was appointed chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights in 2008.

Also presenting papers are Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Ta¤ada III on New Directions in Good Governance and the Commission on Human Rights on New Directions in Human Rights while Atty. Harry Roque Jr. will serve as reactor.

Topics for the industry forum on the second day will be on 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.

The event is sponsored in part by PHILEX Mining, GMA Network Inc., Manila Ocean Park, PLDT and Land Bank of the Philippines while the United Print Media Group is the official print media partner. (With Ariel Sebellino)