A Pulitzer-winning journalist on Thursday called on student journalists to help restore the trust of the public in the media during The Manila Times’ recognition of some of the best outputs of Philippine campus papers.
Manuel Mogato, a veteran journalist working for Reuters, who last year won the Pultizer Prize for international reporting, said student journalists play an important role in safeguarding journalism at a time when the public has become cynical of the media’s role in upholding a vibrant democracy.
“This is an urgent call to restore the trust of the public all the while upholding and practicing the highest standards and excellence in journalism,” Mogato told the campus journalists during his speech at The Manila Times’ Campus Press Awards. Mogato also urged journalists to hold the line, as the country gradually becomes more dangerous for media practitioners.
“The Philippines, despite having no nationwide armed turmoil, has been ranked as one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism in, among countries that have ensuing conflict,” he said.
The Manila Times on Thursday gave 33 awards to several campus papers and journalists all around the country in the high school and college levels.
Dante Francis Ang 2nd, president and chief executive officer of The Manila Times, called the awards as the product of the newspaper’s enduring legacy and a recognition of the campus press as the future of the industry. “With these awards, we recognize the efforts and standards of campus papers that we at The Manila Times practice and [uphold],” he said.
The Manila Times named De la Salle University’s La Sallian and Ang Kalasag of the Virgen delas Flores High School as the best newspapers in English and Filipino, respectively. The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas (College) and Winston, the voice of British School Manila (High School), won best websites. The BDO “We Find Ways Special Award” was awarded to La Salle for the best story on innovation.
The Campus Press Awards also recognized Scribble of Siena College Taytay and La Salle’s Malate Literary Folio as the best magazines for the two levels. Students from UST and La Salle (College); Sibagat National High School and Rizal National High School bagged Best News Story awards in both language categories.
The awards for Best Editorial were won by UST, Philippine Science High School Calabarzon and Virgen delas Flores High School. Students from La Salle and Ignacio Villamor High School won Best Photography awards. The Best Opinion Columns were won by students from UST, Trece Martires National High School and Virgen delas Flores High School. Saint Michael’s College of Laguna, Pasig Science High School, Malabon National High School, Alabat Island National High School and La Salle’s sports stories were awarded best in their respective categories.
The Best Feature Stories were awarded to students from University of San Agustin Iloilo, Philippine Science High School Calabarzon and Virgen delas Flores High School. The awards also recognized students’ eye for aesthetics through the Best Layout and Design and Best Editorial Cartoon Awards, both of which were won by the School of Saint Anthony. University of San Agustin and the University of Rizal System also won the awards, respectively.
The Manila Times also recognized literary excellence through its Best Literary Story awards, which were won by Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (English), University of Rizal System and Columban College-Barreto (Filipino).
The Campus Press Awards is annually held and is organized by The Manila Times and The Manila Times College.
