Newsbreak, PCIJ stories win in 2008 JVO awards

IN-DEPTH stories on governance and corruption, human rights, and environment won in the 19th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ) held yesterday at the Asian Institute of Management.

Roel Landingin’s “The Battle for Manila’s Gateway,” published in the September to December 2007 issue of Newsbreak, was named best in investigative and explanatory reporting. The story examined the account of events surrounding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 3 – Philippine International Air Terminal Co. (PIATCO) controversy.

Another Newsbreak story, “Trapped in a Web of Lives” by Glenda Gloria, published last December 2007 to February 2008, also won the grand prize. It was cited as “a comprehensive, well-researched and compelling story” on the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, which emphasized the need to address the problem of human rights violation.

Landingin, also a fellow of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Gloria both received plaques of distinction, P70,000 cash prize each, and the Australian Ambassador’s Award from the Australian Embassy and the Marshall McLuhan Prize from the Canadian Embassy, respectively.

Another PCIJ fellow, Prime Sarmiento, also received a citation for her story “What’s Swimming In Your Soup?” which delved into the country’s continuing lack of proper drainage systems. She received a plaque of merit and a cash prize of P25,000.

Other finalists include the following:

• “Palace document shows gov’t plan to neutralize Left”
  by Norman Bordadora and Michael Lim Ubac
  Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 16-17, 2007

• “The road to Italy”
  by Gemma Luz Corotan
  Newsbreak, September-December 2007

• “Inside PCGG 21 years later”
  by Fernando del Mundo, Margaux C. Ortiz, Jerry Esplanada and Daxim L. Lucas with reports from TJ Burgonio and Lawrence de Guzman
  Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 22-25, 2007

• “Environmentalists to gov’t: Manage garbage, don’t promote landfills, dumps”
  by Nora O. Gamolo
  The Manila Times, October 28-29, October 31-November 1, 2007

• “Garci was here”
  by Miriam Grace A. Go
  Newsbreak, July-September 2007

• “Bridging the digital gap”
  by Allison Lopez, Riza Olchondra, Juliet Labog-Javellana with reports from Julie S. Alipala/Chief: Fernando del Mundo
  Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 27-29, 2007

• “Malansang balak ng Hapon sa Pilipinas“
  by Soliman A. Santos and Kenneth Roland A. Guda
  Pinoy Weekly, October 17-23, 2007

The prestigious JVOAEJ is organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and given in honor of the late Jaime V. Ongpin who was finance secretary during the Aquino administration and a press freedom advocate.