CEBU CITY – The Manila Bulletin was feted at the Philippine Heart Association-Philippine College of Cardiology (PHA-PCC) Media Awards 2023 on Thursday, December 7, at The Westin Manila in Mandaluyong City.
The 2,312-member PHA-PCC awarded nine journalists, 13 media entities, a singer-host, and a talk show host.
Awardees in the Individual Category were Michael Delizo (ABS-CBN/ANC), Dr. Freddie Gomez (MedTalk Health Talk, CNN PH), Diane Querrer (PTV 4), Connie Sison (Pinoy MD, DzBB), Annabelle Surara (Radyo Agila), Marou Sarne (DwIZ/ALIW TV23), Teresa Montemayor (Philippine News Agency), Calvin Cordova (Manila Bulletin-Cebu), and Leony Garcia (WhatchaMacallit).
Under the Media Entity/Show/Program category, the awardees were ABS-CBN, CNN PH, DzRH, GMA News Online, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, MedTalk Health Talk, Net 25, PTV 4, Radyo Agila, Philippine News Agency; Iwas Sakit, Iwas Gastos, Radyo 630 DwPM, and SciTech & Digital News.
Martin Nievera and Boy Abunda were named PHA Media Awardees (Special Category).
Nievera, the “Philippine’s Concert King,” and Abunda, the “King of Talk,” are regular advocates of the PHA Council on Heart Failure and National Heart Failure Network and Usapang Puso sa Puso virtual forum.
The PHA-PCC said that the awardees “are a particularly passionate group that have illustrated how they have made the PHA’s mission to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, their own personal advocacy.”
Criteria for journalists and media outfits were: News value, reportorial quality (substance, comprehensive, balanced, and originality), storytelling/writing skills, analytical value (capable of reporting a complex issue in a clear and simplified manner), and impact.
PHA President Dr. Ronald Cuyco said thanked the awardees for their contributions.
“In terms of mileage, we reached new heights and new depths. We have gone this far; we owe it to you. We know, there are new frontiers that we have yet to explore.”
The PHA-PCC noted that the news landscape has undergone a dramatic shift, with mainstream media transforming into social media platforms.
“This accessibility revolution has democratized information. Real-time updates, and viral stories from platforms like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X, are readily available to anyone with an internet connection,” it said.
“Such easy access, however, comes with challenges, as concerns about misinformation and echo chambers arise in the absence of established editorial standards and fact checking, thus, in an era of fake news, the need for credible news sources is paramount,” PHA-PCC added.