CATBALOGAN CITY — The board of directors of the Philippine Press Institute News Commons met recently to address key aspects of the organization’s establishment and operations.
The PPI News Commons is an online news-sharing community, connecting local media outfits across the country.
The meeting on Zoom — attended by Board members from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, along with the PPI training team led by Executive Director Ariel Sebellino — focused on the election of officers and plans for funding.
During the online meeting, the Board members also voted for the officers of the PPI News Commons: Joenald Rayos, publisher of Pahayagang Balikas in Batangas, as chairperson; Redempto Anda, editor of Palawan News, as vice chair & president; Amalia Montecillo Bandiola, editor-in-chief of the Mindanao Times in Davao City, as corporate secretary; and MetroPost publisher Alex Rey Pal as treasurer. Joyce Pañares, news editor of the Manila Standard, was appointed as executive editor; while Neitiviti Studios will manage its website.
The induction of officers of the PPI News Commons was tentatively set for April 24 or 27 in Manila.
PPI Chairman Rolando Estabillo, publisher of the Manila Standard, who presided over the meeting, announced that the initial funding for PPI News Commons will come from SM Investments and the International Container Terminal Services Inc.
The PPI News Commons will also have a separate registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between PPI and Manila Standard has been scheduled for Feb. 29 in Makati.
The PPI News Commons platform aims to collate and curate local news from across the country, provide the community papers a wider audience, and help secure the future of journalists. The services of the News Commons are available for all member-newspapers of the PPI. (RJB)
