Reporter gets 2nd award for best editorial

Reporter gets 2nd award for best editorial

TORONTO – The Philippine Reporter was recently awarded for “Best Editorial and Visual Presentation,” by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada. This is the second time the paper won this award from the prestigious national press organization, the first in 2003.

The award was presented to Hermie Garcia, publisher and editor, by the Hon. James K. Bartleman, Ontario Lieutenant Governor, and Thomas Saras, president of the NEPMCC, during the September 15 award ceremonies held at Queen’s Park, Toronto — the highlight of activities commemorating Ethnomedia Week

The Philippine Reporter was among 15 newspapers in Canada accorded prestigious honors by the Council – the only national ethnic press and media organization in the country.

Other awards were also given to 30 individuals for their outstanding contributions in the field of the humanities, arts, letters, community service, industry, and science.

The formal award ceremony which was hosted by the Hon. Bartleman, was attended by politicians including the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; Hon. Michael Colle, Ontario’s Minister for Culture and Immigration; the Hon. Howard Hampton, MPP, leader of the Ontario NDP; the Hon. Jim Karygiannis, M.P.; and the Hon. David Miller, Mayor of the City of Toronto.

The Philippine Reporter’s award plaque, signed by Saras and Clyde McNeil, Chairman of the Board of NEPMCC, read:

“Award to Garcia, Hermie, Editor-in-Chief, The Philippine Reporter, presented in appreciation for Best Editorial and Visual Interpretation and oustanding achievements, contributions and community service and in recognition of his efforts in promoting Philippine traditions and the interests of his community, his leadership and dedication for the promotion of multiculturalism, human rights, respect of human values, integrity and equality among all Canadians.”

The Philippine Reporter’s first NEPMCC award was presented during the Ethnomedia Week 2003 celebration at Liberty Grand Building at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

This year’s awards was the highlight of the 2005 Ethnomedia Week held to honor the approximately four hundred ethnic newspapers and magazines and media organizations in Canada, serving more than 12 million people of various racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, who came from various parts of the world and made Canada their home.

The Philippine Reporter, which is in its 17th year of continuous publication twice a month, was established in Toronto in March 1989, by Hermie and Mila Garcia, professional journalists from Manila, Philippines. Reporting events in the Philippines and in the growing local community, it covers hard news, features, political opinion, entertainment and the arts, sports and community.

At the award ceremonies, The Philippine Reporter was described as a paper that has become “an institution in the Filipino community…with its policy of fair and fearless journalism, it has gained respect for its independence and courage to report on stories other papers would rather ignore.” It was also noted that The Philippine Reporter was described by a Philippine Ambassador to Canada as “the newspaper that has the strongest impact in the Filipino community.”