MANILA, Philippines - Apat na weekly paper at 3 regional publications ang pumasok bilang finalist sa 2011 Civic Journalist Community Press Awards ng Philippine Press Institute (PPI).
Ang mga pumasok na finalists na weekly publications ay ang Mabuhay (Malolos, Bulacan), Baguio Midland Courier (Baguio City), Edge Davao (Davao City) at Mindanao Cross (Cotabato City) habang ang daily publications naman ay ang Sunstar Davao (Davao City), Sunstar Cebu (Cebu City) at Sunstar Pampanga (City of San Fernando).
Ang nasabing 7 pahayagan ang maglalaban para sa 6 na kategorya: best in photojournalism, best in culture and arts reporting, best in science and environmental reporting, best in business and economic reporting, best editorial page at best edited community newspaper.
Ang mananalo ay ihahayag sa 16th National Press Forum at Annual Membership meeting ng PPI na gaganapin sa Abril 24 sa traders Hotel kung saan si Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ang magiging guest speaker at si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang magiging keynote speaker sa pagbubukas ng conference na “Media Accountability and Public Engagement”. Ipinagdidiwang ng PPI ang ika-48 founding anniversary at 25 years ng reactivation matapos ang EDSA People Power revolution.
Karagdagang kategorya ang culture and arts na siyang tema para sa photo at stories exhibit na ihaharap ng National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) kung saan ang mananalo ay tatanggap ng tropeo at cash prizes.
Kasama sa nagtaguyod sa pamamahala ng awards, cash prizes at tropeo ang The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (TCCEC) at 6 na newspaper-members ng Board na Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, The Philippine Star, Manila Standard Today, and the Journal Group. Ang TCCEC ay major partner ng PPI para sa proyektong Better Communities Through Civic Journalism mula noong 2002.
Suportado din ito ng St. Luke’s Medical Center kasama ang major sponsor na Chevron Philippines Inc., Liwayway Marketing Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Anflo Management Investment Corporation, Petron Philippines, United Laboratories, Land Bank of the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, McDonald’s Philippines, at Smart Communications, Inc.
Bahagi ng malilikom na donasyon ay magiging training fund ng PPI para suportahan ang workshops at seminars ng mga miyembro nito para lalong mapataas ang media education at professionalization.