NUJP Hosts IFJ Tolerance Prize for Southeast Asia

Published on June 26, 2004

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will host the Tolerance Prize for Southeast Asia administered by the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The awarding will be held on June 25 at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila. A forum on media and its role in reporting racial and ethnic issues will precede the awards.

By Bulatlat.com

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will host the Tolerance Prize for Southeast Asia administered by the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The awarding will be held on June 25 at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila. A forum on media and its role in reporting racial and ethnic issues will precede the awards.

The forum’s theme is “Ethnic Tolerance: Trends and Challenges in Journalism.”

The IFJ Tolerance Prize, an annual competition among journalists from all sectors of the media, is supported by the European Union and is awarded in five regions around the world: Latin America, Central and Western Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. Each region will have a total pool of 3,000 euros (U.S.$3,643) to award the winners.

The NUJP is the Philippine affiliate of the IFJ, the world’s largest organization of journalists.

The Southeast Asia finalists were chosen from 128 entries submitted from the region. A jury composed of Southeast Asian media practitioners selected them.

The Southeast Asia finalists for print and online media are:

*Jose Torres Jr. (Philippines), for his story, “Troubled Return of The Faithful,” that appeared on ABS-CBN Interactive between April and June 2003;

*Nezar Patria (Indonesia) for “May 1998, The Razing of Jakarta” published by Tempo Magazine on May 26, 2003; and

*Karaniya Dharmasaputra and Iwan Setiawan (Indonesia) for their story “A Life Snatched Away” printed in Tempo Magazine on May 26, 2003.

The Southeast Asian finalists for the broadcast media are:

*Helmayanti (Indonesia) for “A Bitter Life of the Tionghoa Ethnic,” aired on Radio 68 H in December 2003;

*Ayu Purwaningsih (Indonesia) for “Indonesian Migrant Workers, the Neglected Foreign Exchange Heroes” on Radio 68 H aired in December 2003; and

*Masrur Jamaluddin (Indonesia) for “For A Piece Of Paper,” aired on Metro TV on December 28, 2003.

According to the IFJ, the Tolerance Prize “celebrates the work of those journalists who have offered a deeper understanding of ethnic, racial, religious, cultural and other differences. These journalists have recognized that understanding is the key to promoting tolerance, and that tolerance is the key to combating racist and discriminatory beliefs.”

The prize, it says, “encourages journalistic work that acts to promote a thorough and deeper understanding of the issues surrounding conflict and tension. It promotes journalistic work that results in greater understanding, peace and harmony.”

During the forum, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Westin Philippine Plaza, a representative from IFJ Southeast Asia will present “Crossfire: An overview of how media has covered Southeast Asian ethnic issues, and how journalists have been casualties of conflicts.”

Maurice Malanes, a member of NUJP-Baguio and correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, will give a talk on “Development Aggression: Endangered lives.”

Noralyn Mustafa, the Jolo-based columnist and correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, will also present “Muslims: Dangerous Stereotypes” while Torres Jr., senior editor at abs-cbn.com news service, will talk about “Lumads: Silent Death.” Torres is also a member of Mindanao’s Subanen tribe and author of “Into The Mountain,” a book on the Abu Sayyaf.

Carolyn Arguillas, a multi-awarded Filipino journalist and editor of MindaNews, will present “Beyond War,” which acknowledges the role of peace and development workers in Mindanao. Arguillas’s presentation will tackle this question: “Which comes first, peace or development?”

Carlos H. Conde, a Mindanaoan journalist who is also secretary-general of the NUJP, will talk about “Chasing deadlines: Untangling lies and double speak in the anti-terror campaign.”

A group of panelists will then react to the presentations. They are Rony Diaz, publisher of The Manila Times and a veteran development worker; Abhoud Syed Lingga, executive director of the Institute for Bangsa Moro Studies based in Cotabato City; Joan Carling, executive director of the Cordillera People’s Alliance; and UP Prof. Georgina Encanto, one of the Tolerance Prize’s jury members.

Members of the media, academe, civil society and people’s organizations are expected to attend the forum and awarding ceremony.