Editor's Note

Dyurnalis. The Rotary Club of Manila is finishing strong as it sprints towards the end of this eventful Rotary year. Today, in its weekly meeting, the annual Pro Patria Journalism Awards will be conferred to another batch of deserving recipients. From among a number of nominees, the Journalism Awards Committee has carefully chosen the 2023 awardees, who were all unanimously voted by the committee members.

The word journalism comes from the word ‘journal’ – which evolved from a late Latin word 'dyurnalis’ which means belonging to a day. This day, June 15, rightfully belongs to our set of awardees who will be deservingly recognized.

A truly impactful and among the Club’s institutional projects, the yearly conferment of this prestigious Journalism Awards is certainly an eloquent way of honoring the men, women, and organizations who have promoted and practiced responsible journalism. The three awardees this year will be for the following categories: a) Pro Patria Talk Journalism Awardee for Talk Show of the Year; b) Pro Patria Journalism Awardee for News Reporting; and c) Pro Patria Journalism Awardee for Newspaper of the Year.

The role of media, in general, and journalism, in particular, is vital in the life of our nation, as well as in our growth and maturity as a people. Rightly termed the “fourth pillar of the state,” the media plays a key role for the efficient working of democracy. As Thomas Jefferson succinctly said, “our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Indeed, the ability of journalists and public affairs writers and professionals to report the true state of affairs is essential in making democracy work in any country. Even news articles that are unpalatable to the government, as long as true and accurate, must be allowed to be published without being restrained or censored.

Marcelo del Pilar, widely regarded as the “Father of Philippine Journalism,” is known for his writings that were critical and hard-hitting. He is known for his 150 essays and 66 editorials mostly published in La Solidaridad and various anti-friar pamphlets. We thus need a brand of journalism that is both fearless and fair.

In our day and age, with so many things and events simultaneously happening – in the national and local government, around the globe, and in local communities -- each individual’s need for instant and reliable information has tremendously increased. It is the information one gets from responsible journalists and media outlets that aids citizens in making decisions in their personal, professional and business affairs.

In fine, for providing a platform for diverse views and more in-depth discussion of the burning issues of the day, for constantly checking the actions and behavior of government officials, and for making available all relevant and needed information to the general public, it is but proper that the outstanding men and women engaged in this noble profession, journalism, be duly recognized and heralded by no less than the First Rotary Club of Asia.