UNPERTURBED and braving the risks and threats of the coronavirus in its mandate to deliver timely, relevant, credible and fair information to people, SunStar Pampanga shone in the 2020 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards held by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) Friday, October 8, 2021.
SunStar Pampanga, during a virtual ceremony hosted by PPI executive director Ariel Sebellino in Manila, bagged the Best Editorial Page award in the daily category, "for explaining and interpreting issues relevant to the community; for fearlessly criticizing officials and institutions involved in wrongdoing; and for serving as an important voice and watchdog of the community during the critical days of the Covid-19 pandemic."
SunStar Pampanga's roster of columnists and opinion writers include veterans Max Sangil (Trending Toda Max), Benjie Pangan (At Close Range), Kragi Garcia (Kapisik), Dr. Jaime Cortez (The Good News), Ric Sapnu (Dateline: Olivas), Ding Cervantes (Phone Notes), Rox Peña (E-ssue), Noel Tulabut (My Palm Notes), Atty. Atlee Viray (In and Out of Court), Michelle Catap Lacson (Providentia), Coach Pat De Leon (Millennial Chat), Ching Pangilinan (Culturati), Dennis Limlingan (The Advocate), Jay Pelayo IV (The Fort) and Pastor Guiao (My Opinion).
SunStar Pampanga also earned merits as nominee and finalist in the other four categories of the 2020 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards: the coveted Best Edited Community Newspaper award; Best in Economic and Business Reporting; Best in Environment Reporting; and Best in Photojournalism.
In the 2015 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards SunStar Pampanga was named Best in Culture, Arts and History Reporting, while in 2011, it was conferred the Best in Environmental Reporting award.
Meanwhile, SunStar Cebu was named the Best Edited Community Newspaper in the country in the daily category of the awards. It was also named Best in Business and Economic Reporting among daily newspapers nationwide.
The other winners: Best in Reporting on Migration Issues - Luzonwide News Correspondent (weekly), Daily Guardian (daily); Best in Photojournalism - Metro Post (weekly), The Freeman (daily); Best in Environmental Reporting - Baguio Chronicle (weekly), Leyte Samar Daily Express (daily).
Also winners were for Best in Business and Economic Reporting - Herald Express (weekly), Best Editorial Page - Palawan News (weekly), and Best Edited Community Newspaper - Metro Post (weekly).
The 2020 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards was presented by the Philippine Press Institute, the national association of newspapers, with support from Nickel Asia Corp., Hanns Seidel Foundation, International Labor Organization, SM Investments Corp., Ayala Corp., San Miguel Corp. and McDonald’s.
The awards program, aimed at raising the standards of journalism in the countryside, seeks to honor print news organizations, not only for editorial excellence but also for their role as catalysts for community development. (JTD)