MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.net/ 29 June 2025)—Nine local newspapers from across the country took the spotlight in the 2024 Community Press Awards of the Philippine Press Institute held at Eastwood on June 27, Friday.
Best News Websites
The Best News Website were awarded to the Northern Dispatch, for Luzon; The Freeman, for the Visayas; and MindaNews, for Mindanao.
The Baguio-based Nordis was hailed for its “no nonsense journalism” with content that is “solid” and coverage “wide-ranging and relevant.” PPI also noted its Fact-Check section.
As for The Freeman, which is part of the Philippine Star newspaper chain, international, national, and local happenings are covered. “But its identification is undoubtedly Cebu,” the award citation reads. “Through its large volume of articles, it convince the dynamism and the charm of the city and the province.”
PPI lauded MindaNews for capturing “Mindanao’s heart and soul” with a coverage that “gives readers insights to the diverse culture of the Mindanaons.” Its special reports on Mindanao’s struggle for peace was also highlighted in the award citation.
Best Edits and Editorials
SunStar Cebu and Pahayagang Balikas were awarded the Best Edited Newspapers for daily and weekly news category, respectively.
PPI commended SunStar Cebu for shining “the spotlight on issues that have direct impact on the community” and for national stories being given local angle and treatment.
Its visual presentation was also highlighted for making news more engaging “at a time when print media have less and less readers.”
Pahayagang Balikas, a Batangas-based weekly covering Southern Tagalog, was hailed for its “commitment to ethical journalism” although coverage is not as time-sensitive as the dailies. Its inovations on making the paper look modern and dynamic were also mentioned.
Its opinion page, which showcased a modern agora of “impassioned views” and “well-argued treatise” also merited its Best Editorial Page award.
The other Best Editorial Page recipient was the daily Panay News “for its corps of columnists who act as chroniclers and collective conscience of Western Visayas.”
Special Sections
The Best in Photojournalism award was given to Baguio Chronicle (weekly) for its “principled and compelling use of photojournalism to capture the pulse and the spirit of the community.” According to PPI, its photojournalism “stands on its own, offering readers an immersive visual experience grounded in the everyday lives in the everyday lives, struggles, and celebrations of the community it serves.”
SunStar Cebu (daily) was also awarded for approaching visual journalism with purpose and precision and “for its exceptional use of images to inform, engage, and uphold the highest standards of ethical photojournalism.” PPI lauded its use of photographs “not as supplements but as central elements of storytelling.”
The newspaper also received the Best in Environmental Reporting for its big number of published environmental stories in 2024 that prominently dotted both the front page and inside pages.
The Baguio Chronicle (weekly) was also lauded for its dedicated Environment Page and for the newspaper’s front, inside pages, and columns becoming a “vessel in discussing numerous environment concerns.”
The Best in Business and Economic Reporting award was given to the Daily Guardian for “stories that have impact on the lives of the people throughout the Visayas region.” According to PPI jury, its dedicated business page help readers understand why business and economics matter. It also highlighted “best practices in business, which help readers develop an entrepreneurial mindset.”
Another recipient is the Baguio-based weekly Herald Express for covering a “broad scope of economic and business topics while delivering original reportage.” Their feature, “Protect your heart, wallet, and privacy this February” which tackled online love scams was given special mention for making “economic literacy accessible and timely.”
The Philippine Press Institute, founded in 1964, is one of the country’s oldest professional media organizations.