FIRST BATCH OF PH MEDIA FELLOWS FOR HUMANE DRUG POLICY ANNOUNCED
MANILA–News Core Bulacan’s Editor-In-Chief, Carmela Reyes-Estrope who is also the Correspondent of Philippine Daily Inquirer in Bulacan, was among the nineteen journalists in the country who were chosen as fellows in the Media on Humane Drug Policy 2023.
The Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI), a network of advocates advancing humane drug policies in the country released last week the names of the 19 media fellows who will undergo training in covering issues surrounding drugs, drug use, drug policies, and related issues with the aim of putting an end to stigma and harm for people whose lives include drugs.
Here are the complete names of the 19 journalists.
1. Karlston Lapniten
Multimedia Journalist
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cordillera Administrative Region
2. Liana Apostol
Freelance Journalist
Metro Manila and Pampanga
3. Carmela Reyes-Estrope
News Correspondent, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bulacan
Editor-in-Chief, News Core, Bulacan
4. Mike Navallo
Reporter
ABS-CBN News, Metro Manila
5. Marc Jayson Cayabyab
Print Reporter
Philippine Star, Metro Manila
6. Jacob Lazaro
Reporter
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Metro Manila
7. Paul Icamina
Reporter
Malaya Business Insight, Metro Manila
8. Noel Talacay
Reporter
PTV4, Metro Manila
9. Faith Argosino
Multimedia Reporter
INQUIRER.net, Metro Manila
10. Rambo Talabong
Freelance Journalist, Metro Manila
11. Kaycee Valmonte
Reporter
Philstar Online, Metro Manila
12. Ghio Ong
Reporter
The Philippine Star, Metro Manila
13. Totel De Jesus
Freelance Writer/Editor, Metro Manila
14. Jinky Lou Tabor
News Stringer, GMA 7 Bicol Region and Basilan
Station Manager, Bicol Star Teleradyo, Catanduanes
15. Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Senior Reporter
Daily Guardian, Western Visayas Region
16. June Joseph Perez
News Anchor
Sibya TV, Cebu
17. Angelica Saniel
News Editor
MyTV Cebu, Region 7
18. Nef Luczon
Reporter/Regional Bureau Chief
Philippine News Agency, Northern Mindanao
19. Misel Miral-Galve
Radio Anchor & Special Projects Head
DXDC 621 RMN Davao, Davao City
“The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and policy,” said Atty. Kristine Mendoza, DPRI’s lead convener. “This fellowship is a continuing conversation with the Fourth Estate to uphold journalistic integrity and ethics in ensuring that their reporting does no harm to people whose lives include drugs and instead empowers communities by amplifying their stories,” she added.
Their training will commence on April 20. They will also undergo coaching sessions with their fellow journalists, drug policy experts, and advocates until May 2023. A seed grant will also be made available for data-gathering and publishing of their respective work.
Estrope was earlier three times chosen as fellow by the Philippine Press Institute on major pandemic issues and concerns in 2021 and 2022 and by the UP College of Mass Communication Lopez Jaena Training on Disaster Preparedness in 2014.
