ASEAN takes spotlight in PPI’s 21st press forum

Now on its 53rd year as the country’s national association of newspapers, the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) is holding its 21st National Press Forum on May 24-26 in Manila.

Themed “ASEAN@50: Beyond the Headlines,” the event coincides with the regional organization’s golden anniversary.

The Philippines holds this year’s chairmanship of ASEAN.

“Today, at 50, ASEAN’s decades-long existence should prompt some earnest reflection on several fronts. How far has it gone in achieving its goals? How much of its multi-pronged vision for the 625 million-strong regional bloc is now undeniably a reality?” says PPI in its concept note explaining the rationale behind this year’s theme.

“ASEAN is not just about the much-ballyhooed, highprofile summits and similar events regularly attended by its leaders and other highranking officials.”

“Perhaps it is time Southeast Asia’s national and regional media, including community newspapers, took stock of the state of their coverage of the regional bloc … shining a spotlight where it’s most needed, long after the latest ASEAN summit has been concluded or regional agreement signed – and long after the visual spectacles that often mark highlevel regional meetings have vanished from view.”

Former Ambassador Rosario Manalo, who has served as the Philippine representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) will be the keynote speaker.

A journalist from Myanmar will also grace PPI’s commemorative occasion as a guest speaker.

Saw Yan Naing is a senior reporter at the Thailand-based The Irrawaddy, which focuses on Myanmar. Saw, who belongs to the ethnic Karen minority, writes about human rights and other political and social issues, including ethnic conflicts, in Myanmar. He is a recipient of regional and international fellowships, including the Southeast Asian Press Alliance Journalism Fellowship, Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship, and East-West Center Jefferson Fellowship. He has been honored with a Certificate of Recognition for Courageous Journalism by the US-based non-profit organization Power Mentor.

The much anticipated PPI forum will kick off on May 24 with a general assembly and meeting of PPI member newspapers.

This year, 14 community newspapers are vying for awards in five major categories in the 2016 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards, namely, best in photojournalism, best in environmental reporting, best in business and economic reporting, best editorial page, and best edited paper. The regional finalists are Sun. Star Baguio, Cebu Daily News, Edge Davao, The Freeman, Sun. Star Bacolod, Mindanao Daily Mirror, and Sun.Star Pampanga

in the daily category; Baguio Chronicle, Metro Post, Davao Catholic Herald, Baguio Midland Courier, The Mindanao Cross, The Negros Chronicle, and Mindanao Observer in the weekly category.