MALOLOS CITY—Twelve outstanding journalists and a media organization will be feted by the Bulacan provincial government tonight (Friday, August 28) for the expanded and re-introduced annual Gawad Marcelo H. Del Pilar awards.
For the past three years, the award is known as Gawad Plaridel, but the provincial government decided to rename it in deference to the same award given by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications (UP-CMC).
“The re-introduction of the awards allowed us not only to distinguish it from what the UP-CMC is giving, but also give us opportunity to refine concepts in terms of categories, criteria and process of selection,” said Cecille Yacob, head of the Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO).
This year’s categories include Best in Science, Health and Environment Reporting, Best in Arts and Culture Reporting, Best in Business and Economic Reporting both in print and broadcast media.
A Photojournalist of the Year will be chosen along with three Correspondents of the Year, two Best Campus Journalists. A Special Citation will also be given to a national newspaper, television and radio stations.
Except for the special citation for national media and the Best Campus Journalists awards, all awardees in other categories will receive a specially designed trophy and a cash prize of P10,000 each.
National media organization that will be cited will receive a trophy, while the winning two campus journalists will each receive a trophy and P5,000 each.
In 2005, the award was launched by the provincial government as Gawad Plaridel. The following year until last year, six journalists, three from print and three from broadcast media received the awards.
In those years, journalists writing for local weekly newspapers ruled the awards as it made no distinction between journalists writing for local weekly and national daily newspapers.
According to Yacob, the reintroduction of the award is not only expected to increase participation of more qualified journalists, but is also hoped to encourage them to be better journalists committed to the welfare of Bulacan.
The award is the highest recognition given by the provincial government to local journalists.
It is also the first and only journalism award sponsored by a local government unit in the country based on a proposal submitted by the local journalists in 2002.
For the past three years, the award is known as Gawad Plaridel, but the provincial government decided to rename it in deference to the same award given by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications (UP-CMC).
“The re-introduction of the awards allowed us not only to distinguish it from what the UP-CMC is giving, but also give us opportunity to refine concepts in terms of categories, criteria and process of selection,” said Cecille Yacob, head of the Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO).
This year’s categories include Best in Science, Health and Environment Reporting, Best in Arts and Culture Reporting, Best in Business and Economic Reporting both in print and broadcast media.
A Photojournalist of the Year will be chosen along with three Correspondents of the Year, two Best Campus Journalists. A Special Citation will also be given to a national newspaper, television and radio stations.
Except for the special citation for national media and the Best Campus Journalists awards, all awardees in other categories will receive a specially designed trophy and a cash prize of P10,000 each.
National media organization that will be cited will receive a trophy, while the winning two campus journalists will each receive a trophy and P5,000 each.
In 2005, the award was launched by the provincial government as Gawad Plaridel. The following year until last year, six journalists, three from print and three from broadcast media received the awards.
In those years, journalists writing for local weekly newspapers ruled the awards as it made no distinction between journalists writing for local weekly and national daily newspapers.
According to Yacob, the reintroduction of the award is not only expected to increase participation of more qualified journalists, but is also hoped to encourage them to be better journalists committed to the welfare of Bulacan.
The award is the highest recognition given by the provincial government to local journalists.
It is also the first and only journalism award sponsored by a local government unit in the country based on a proposal submitted by the local journalists in 2002.
