MANILA — Panay News, Western Visayas’ leading daily, was awarded Best Editorial Page for the second consecutive year at the 2024 Community Press Awards by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), held June 27 at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Quezon City.
The PPI, in its citation, lauded the paper’s editorials as “persistent, well-written, and to-the-point,” highlighting their role in not only celebrating local and regional gains in economic growth, culture, education, and good governance but also in calling out institutional neglect, public service failures, and issues in infrastructure and accountability.
The editorial section, long regarded as the “voice” of a publication, plays a crucial role in shaping civic awareness and public discourse. For PPI, Panay News stood out for its ability to contextualize local issues within broader national conversations while remaining grounded in the realities of the region it serves.
In addition, the editorial page was praised for initiating critical conversations on politics, environmental sustainability, and heritage preservation, areas often underreported in community journalism. Its team of regular columnists were described as “the chroniclers and conscience of Western Visayas,” serving as independent voices that inform, challenge, and engage readers.
Chief Operating Officer Daniel S. Fajardo II accepted the award on behalf of Panay News during the ceremony attended by journalists, editors, publishers, and media advocates from across the country.
This year’s award builds on Panay News’ strong editorial tradition, and its win reinforces its stature as one of the few regional dailies that consistently deliver pointed, credible, and community-rooted opinion journalism in the digital age.
Aside from the editorial page recognition, Panay News was also among the finalists for Best News Website for Visayas, reflecting its evolving presence online and its continued investment in digital journalism to reach a broader and younger audience.
Last year, aside from Best Editorial Page, Panay News was also cited as Best in Reporting on Migration Issues, and Best in Business and Economic Reporting.
The Community Press Awards, organized annually by the PPI with support from partners such as Nickel Asia Corporation and Hanns Seidel Foundation, honors the best in community journalism across the country. It aims to raise the standards of provincial reporting, editorial writing, photojournalism, and digital innovation among member publications.
The recognition affirms Panay News’ continued commitment to thoughtful, fearless, and relevant journalism, a vital pillar of democratic discourse, especially in the provinces where community media serve as a frontline source of truth and accountability./PN
