THE 17th annual conference of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), the national association of newspapers, opens Thursday at the New World Hotel in Makati with the theme: "Watching the Watchdog: Re-examining Ourselves".
The national press forum aims to re-examine the journalism practice in the country and assess how newspapers are surviving in the digital age.
The highly anticipated event gathers editors and publishers to discuss issues affecting the sustainability of community newspapers and even threats that make it difficult for publications and journalists to survive.
Also invited to attend are members of the diplomatic community, journalism and communication students and educators, business groups, representatives from the civil society organizations, media executives, and government officials.
"We need to be critical of ourselves too," Malaya publisher and PPI chairman Amado 'Jake' Macasaet said during the final meeting of the PPI Board first quarter of the year. "There are those who corrupt and those who are being corrupted."
He said the theme goes beyond ethics but more importantly, touches on the survival of newspapers amidst the proliferation of online media and other competitors.
Media critic and PPI Vice Chairman Vergel Santos, who will do the introduction to set the tone of the conference, said proficiency should also be the focus. "Not only because the quality of professional practice in every aspect is poor, but also because technology has opened the practice to people altogether untrained for it, not to mention clueless about it," he said.
Both seasoned newspapermen and long-time PPI trustees agreed professional values should be revisited and the quality of their observance as well the extent of their non-observance re-assessed.
The PPI Board's choice of speakers such as Dean Rolando Tolentino from the University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communication (UPCMC), Ramon Tuazon from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) foreign correspondent and popular journalist-blogger Raissa Robles, press freedom fighter Rowena Paraan from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Malou Mangahas from the Philippine Center on Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Marites Vitug from Rappler to name a few, will hopefully provide a wide spectrum of insights and lessons from the shortcomings of the media from both practitioners and academic experts as the 'third party'.
Highlight of the Press Forum is the 2012 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards recognizing community newspapers that excelled last year in editing, photojournalism, editorial, business and economic reporting, science and environment reporting, culture and arts reporting, and climate change and biodiversity reporting which is also this year's exhibit theme.
The finalists are: Mabuhay (Bulacan), Metropost (Dumaguete City), The Mindanao Cross (Cotabato City), Baguio Midland Courier (Baguio City), Bohol Chronicle (Tagbiliran City), The Mindanao Observer (Dipolog City), Sun.Star Baguio (Baguio City), Panay News (Iloilo City), Sun.Star Davao (Davao City), Sun.Star Cebu (Cebu City), Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro (Cagayan de Oro City), The Visayan Daily Star (Bacolod City), Edge Davao (Davao City), Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Cagayan de Oro City), Sun.Star Pampanga (City of San Fernando) and Mindanao Times (Davao City). The winners in all seven categories from the weeklies and the dailies will receive trophies and cash prizes.
The 17th National Press Forum is supported by The Coca-Cola Export Corporation as the Institute's principal funder through a partnership program on "Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism", and in part by Nickel Asia Corporation as major sponsor, New World Hotel, PhilHealth, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Petron Corporation, SM Retail, Inc., SM Investments Corporation and Land Bank of the Philippines.
The National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity will provide the cash prizes for the winners of culture and arts reporting, and climate change and biodiversity reporting. Official media partner is the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. (PR)