Newsbreak wins top investigative journalism awards
abs-cbnnews.com | 06/26/2008 6:43 PM
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Newsbreak Managing editor and current ANC COO Glenda Gloria receives the Marshall Mcluhan Prize for her story "Trapped in a Web of Lives" published in Newsbreak magazine.
By LEILANI CHAVEZ
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Newsbreak bagged the top awards in the 19th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism, acknowledged to be the most prestigious award for investigative and explanatory journalism in the country.
Glenda Gloria's "Trapped in a Web of Lives" and Roel Landingin's "The Battle for Manila's Gateway," both published in Newsbreak magazine, won the grand prizes.
Newsbreak is a partner of abs-cbnNEWS.com.
Prime Sarmiento of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism received the Plaque of Merit for "What's Swimming in your Soup?" published in Malaya.
"Trapped in a Web of Lives" delves into the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos and the possible involvement of the military in his abduction. The NAIA-3 terminal and the business tycoons who are fighting over it was the subject of "The Battle for Manila's Gateway."
In "What's Swimming in your Soup?", the country's sewage system and its threat to the environment were discussed.
Finalists in the JVO contest include: "Palace document shows government plan to neutralize Left" by Norman Borbadora and Michael Lim Ubac (Philippine Daily Inquirer), "The Road to Italy" by Gemma Luz Corotan (Newsbreak), "Inside PCGG 21 years later" by Fernando del Mundo, Margauz C. Ortiz, Jerry Esplanada and Daxim L. Lucas with reports from TJ Burgonio and Lawrence de Guzman (Philippine Daily Inquirer), "Environmentalists to government: Manage garbage, don't promote landfills, dumps" by Nora O. Gamolo (The Manila Times), "Garci was here" by Miriam Grace A. Go (Newsbreak), "Bridging the Digital Gap" by Allison Lopez, Riza Olchondra, Juliet Labog-Javellana with reports from Julie Alipala (Philippine Daily Inquirer), and "Malansang balak ng Hapon sa Pilipinas" by Soliman A. Santos and Kenneth Roland A. Guda (Pinoy Weekly).
Apart from cash, the grand prizes come with visits to Canada and Australia. The Canadian Embassy gave the Marshall McLuhan Prize to Gloria. This entitles her to a study tour of Canada where she can exchange insights with various groups and get a glimpse of Canada's present media situation.
On the other hand, the Australian Embassy presented the Australian Ambassador's Award, a travel grant, to Landingin. Similarly, Landingin will go to Australia on a familiarization trip.
This year's finalists were selected and awarded based on three topics: environment, governance and corruption, and human rights. According to Luis Teodoro, member of the board of judges, the purpose of the topic is to encourage journalists to report on specific issues.
The Plaque of Distinction came with a cash prize of P70,000 and the Plaque of Merit, P25,000. Each of the 10 finalists got plaques and P10,000.
