THE pandemic didn’t stop BusinessMirror from delivering on its promise to readers of a “Broader Look.” Its staff received–one physically, in a crowd-regulated auditorium with masks and shields; and another via virtual rites —top honors in two of the most prestigious events recognizing business journalism.
The Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) and the Ayala Group of Companies named the newspaper as the “Business News Source of the Year” after four of its reporters won in their respective beats. The recognition rites were held virtually.
Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas was named Agriculture and Mining reporter of the year; Lenie Lectura for Energy; Cai U. Ordinario for Macroeconomy; and Rea Cu for Finance.
In the 2019 Philippine Agricultural Journalists-San Miguel Corp. Binhi Awards for Excellence in Agriculture Journalism, BusinessMirror won seven awards, including top prizes in two major categories, and two new special categories in rites held at the Department of Agriculture. Secretary William Dar and the honorees all went onstage with face masks and shields.
Agriculture reporter Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas was hailed Best Agricultural Journalist of the Year for the third consecutive year. He was also adjudged as this year’s Best Agribeat Reporter, the second time in three years that he won it.
Environment reporter Jonathan L. Mayuga bagged second place in the Best Environment Journalist of the Year. Mayuga also won for writing the Best Water Sustainability Story.
BusinessMirror’s Agri-Commodities page, edited by Associate Editor Jennifer A. Ng, also won the Best Agriculture Page of a Newspaper back-to-back while the newspaper’s Broader Look Team composed of Arcalas, Ordinario, and Senior Editor Dennis D. Estopace bagged the SL Agritech Best in Rice Reporting award for its investigative piece titled “Pre- and post-rice trade liberalization law, big traders gaming farmer groups.”
Arcalas and banking reporter Bianca Cuaresma also won the award for Best Agri-Financing Story for their Broader Look piece titled “Real transformation seen to boost efforts to finance PHL’s agriculture sector.”
BusinessMirror’s awards in 2020 came a month after the newspaper, founded on the promise of providing “A Broader Look at Today’s Business,” celebrated its 15th anniversary in October.
It was founded in 2005 by the late ambassador and business leader Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, whose children have continued his involvement in mass media—the publisher is T. Anthony C. Cabangon; the chairman of the board and of the ALC media group is D. Edgard A. Cabangon.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes