PPI to discuss West PHL Sea in conference, bares awards finalists

As it celebrates its 52nd year, the Philippine Press Institute, also known as the national association of newspapers, reaffirms its strong commitment to doing its share in enhancing media’s role as a catalyst for discourse—rich, enlightened, meaningful and sustained—via its Annual National Press Forum and Membership Meeting whose highlight is the Civic Journalism Community Press Awards.

As the Philippines heads into a new political dispensation, much of the country is watching with bated breath how the newly minted President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will sooner or later deal with the issue of China’s aggressive intrusion into the West Philippine Sea (or areas of the South China Sea lying within the country’s exclusive economic zone prescribed by international law). 

Publishers and editors of PPI member-newspapers nationwide will convene in Manila at the Century Park Hotel for the 20th National Press Forum, whose theme “Understanding the Disputes in the West Philippine Sea” will focus on media’s role in fostering public understanding of important issues — not least of which are the dark clouds hovering over the West Philippine Sea — cannot be underscored enough. No less than Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio will be the guest of honor and speaker.
 
Born in Davao City, Justice Antonio Tirol Carpio was sworn in as member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines on October 26, 2001. He is the Chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Second Division and Chairperson of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
 
Partnership programs with Holcim Philippines, Oceana Philippines and Plan International – Philippines will also be re-launched in a separate function. Vera Files will present its journalism fellowship on Road Safety.

Three-time PPI chairman-president Atty. Jesus Dureza will turn over the reins to the next head of the Institute. He will join the Duterte Administration for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
For the first time, incoming Press Secretary and Chief of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Martin Andanar will meet the PPI members to discuss “The Malacañang Press Office and the Press.”

Recognizing excellence in reportage
 
Highlighting the two-day forum is the 2015 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards, the first and only awards program of its kind in the country, that aims to raise the standards of journalism in the countryside and seeks to honor news organizations not only for editorial excellence but also for their role as catalysts for community development.
 
Now on its 20th year, the awards program will honor outstanding community newspapers in various categories such as editing, photojournalism, editorial page, business and economic reporting, environmental reporting, reporting on history, arts and culture, and fisheries. Eighteen newspapers are vying for the seven awards in both daily and weekly categories: (Daily) The Freeman, Mindanao Times, Sun.Star Pampanga, Sun.Star Cebu, Sun.Star Baguio, Sun.Star Davao and Cebu Daily News; (Weekly) Sunday Punch, Eastern Visayas Mail, BusinessWeek Mindanao, The Ilocos Times, The Bohol Chronicle, The Mindanao Cross, Baguio Chronicle, Davao Catholic Herald, Pahayagang Balikas, West Leyte Weekly Express, and Baguio Midland Courier.

This year’s event is supported by Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) as principal partner, and sponsored in part by National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), PhilHealth, Bayer, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans Bank, Holcim Philippines, Oceana Philippines, Plan International – Philippines, PAGCOR, Isuzu,Vera Files, Malaya Business Insight, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Journal Group, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld and Manila Standard Today.
 
The PPI is the country’s premiere print media organization whose member-publications rank among the best, most read and widely circulated newspapers in their respective regions (National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Its principal mandate is the defense of press freedom and the promotion of ethical standards for the professional development of the Filipino journalist. It was founded in 1964 but rendered moribund during martial law.  It was re-activated after the EDSA Revolution and incorporated in 1987.