Saturday, December 09, 2006

PLCPD Pays Tribute To Journalistic Excellence

· Awards to recognize exemplary population and development reporting

The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) is set to hold the 2nd Annual Population and Development Media Awards on December 12. It will be held at 7 in the evening at Plaza Ibarra, Timog Avenue, Quezon City.
“It will be no less than celebratory as we pay tribute to our friends who have bridged the gap between the public’s ignorance and vigilance.”
Such is how Rep. Gilbert Remulla (2nd District-Cavite and PLCPD Board Member) described the atmosphere of the Awards. He heads the Awards’ Board of Judges consisting of Reps. Edcel Lagman (1st District-Albay and PLCPD Board Member), Liza Maza (Gabriela Party List and PLCPD Board Member), Professor Luis Teodoro (UP College of Mass Communication), Ms. Julie Yap Daza (Columnist and 1st Annual Population and Development Awards winner), Dr. Corazon Raymundo (Professor, UP Population Institute), Mr. Ariel Sebellino (Program Director, Philippine Press Institute) and Atty. Rene Soriano (President, Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines).
Already on its second year, the Awards aim to give due recognition to practitioners in print and other mass media (online and wire service) who have helped disseminate relevant information and positive values on population and development.
“Being able to write about population and development with depth and clarity is no mean feat. Persistently bringing population and development issues to the public in the face of criticisms from detractors is truly commendable,” Rep. Remulla reiterated.
Population and development link the different facets of population (such as, numbers, distribution, and other characteristics) with the many aspects of development (like health services, education, economic growth, and governance, environment, food security, human rights, housing, among others). Already quite difficult to explain and write about, mere mention of the topic is often controversial, if not contentious.
“We want to recognize their exemplary efforts and at the same time, encourage the media to actively examine population and development as social issues that affect the country’s development,” Rep. Remulla, who is a broadcast journalist by profession, said.
Unlike last year when citations were given to television and radio, this year’s awards will cite commendable works published online. Entries have also been divided into Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR.
The Annual Population and Development Media Awards is a joint undertaking between PLCPD and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Those who will receive awards are for – Best Reportage– Dennis Jay Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Online-Vinia Datinguinoo, PCIJ; Best Opinion – NCR–Ching Alano and–Carolina “Rollie” Montilla, and Online- Alecks Pabico, PCIJ; and Best Investigative Piece – Cheryl Chan, PCIJ, Mayette Tabada, CAMILLIA QUISTADO, LINETTE RAMOS, JUJEMAY AWIT, Sunstar-Cebu, and Online- Ma. Aurora Fajardo, GMA News. TV. /MP

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