A former editor-in-chief of the Weekly Sillimanian won the 8th Dionisio T. Baseleres Excellence in Campus Journalism Award, given each year to a graduating senior at the SU College of Mass Communication.
Natania Shay Solon Du received a medal and cash reward from the family of Dr. Rose Maxino-Baseleres, represented by her son, Deo Joseph.
The award was named after Dionisio Baseleres, 1972 alumnus of the Journalism degree at Silliman, and editor-in-chief of the Weekly Sillimanian in 1972 for which he was incarcerated when Martial Law was declared.
“It is my children’s tribute to a courageous father who, as EIC during the dictatorial regime, took the role of the press seriously as a watchdog to government,” said Dr. Rose Baseleres.” She said her husband’s “hard-hitting editorials against government abuses cost him his freedom”.
Du has been a news reporter of the Silliman campus paper since her sophomore year, and was appointed by the University as editor-in-chief in her junior year last year. During her term as EIC, the Weekly Sillimanian became a national finalist as Best Student Organ given by the Catholic Mass Media Awards.
She has not only published well-written news stories, commentaries, and editorials for the Weekly Sillimanian, but has also contributed a number of stories to this community paper, the Dumaguete MetroPost, and the online news platform Rappler!, where she is currently part-time researcher and Fact Check contributor.
Dr. Baseleres said their perpetuation of the Award is their way of supporting the training of mass communicators who will “adhere to the journalistic principles in the exercise of their profession”.
Since the Award was established in 2018, three Silliman Masscom graduates have since received the recognition: Ray Chen Bahinting, Jameela Mendoza, and Neil Anthony Lajot.
The Baseleres Campus Journalism Award was given during the College’s Circle of Excellence Awards which annually recognizes students with scholastic achievements, and those with outstanding talent, service and leadership qualities.
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Photo Caption: Natania Shay Solon Du, recipient of the Dionisio Baseleres Excellence in Campus Journalism Award, receives her cash reward from Deo Joseph Baseleres, representing his mother Dr. Rose Maxino-Baseleres. (Photo by Jasper Dominic Miranda/SU KMC)
