For the first time in its history and in celebration of its 25th year since reactivation, the Philippine Press Institute will have President Benigno S. Aquino III and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales as keynote speakers during its two-day by-invitation only 16th National Press Forum on April 23-24 at the Traders Hotel Manila.
This also marks the 48th founding year of the Institute since 1964. It was rendered moribund during martial law, re-activated after the People Power Revolution, and incorporated in 1987.
President Aquino will be the first head of state to address the only annual gathering of owners, publishers and editors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, representing 72 publications.
The President is expected to deliver a message on the “protection and preservation of press freedom and democracy” in the opening ceremonies on April 23.
Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales will keynote the Community Press Awards, honoring the best civic journalism reportage of the previous year.
The National Press Forum is the only conference of its kind when the collective leadership of the nation’s influential publications convene in Manila to discuss matters concerning the industry and issues affecting the professional and ethical practice of journalism.
This year’s conference theme “Media Accountability and Public Engagement” will serve as opportunity for the media to assess itself since the restoration of democracy over 25 years ago. Attendant issues to be discussed will be the Asian Media Barometer: The Philippine Study, media self-regulation and the safety and welfare of journalists.
Since 2009, the annual National Press Forum, one of the most-anticipated print media events, is being consistently supported by The Coca-Cola Export Corp. under its long-term project on “Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism” which started in 2002 with training programs.
This year, St. Luke’s Medical Center stands as the exclusive forum partner.
Other major sponsors are Chevron Philippines, Inc., First Philippine Holdings Corp., Liwayway Marketing Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Anflo Management Investment Corp., United Laboratories, Land Bank of the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, McDonald’s Philippines, Smart Communications Inc., and Petron Philippines.
The PPI is the national association of newspapers. Its principal mandate is to protect press freedom and continuously professionalize newspapers via seminars, workshop, forums and strategic partnerships with other media organizations. It also collaborates with corporate supporters for the conduct of these activities. (Bess Angelina Zamora)
