AN ASSOCIATE professor of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines won second prize in the Global Media and Information Literacy Awards 2023 organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Media and Information Literacy.

Dr. Jose Reuben Alagaran II of the Department of Journalism was the lone representative from the Southeast Asia region to win the prestigious award.

Alagaran was among the other MIL practitioners and organizations nominated by his colleagues for the 2023 Global MIL Awards.

He played a pivotal role in launching MIL initiatives in the Philippines and globally, including organizing the First International Forum of MIL and developing the Explore, Engage, Empower Model.

His contributions extend to founding the Philippine Association on Media and Information Literacy and introducing MIL courses at the PUP, emphasizing the necessity for media literacy in the digital age.

“Dapat lang din na maging basehan is how you have helped the media industry, community, and society to help them become more critically aware of media and information,” PUP quoted him as saying.

“Kung magkaroon ng changes, baka ayun na yung measurement dahil nakikita mo ’yung pagbabago sa mga tinulungan mo. Kung nakikita ko na nagiging critical and responsable kayong user and creator masaya na ako roon,” he added.

The award is annually given to individuals and organizations who have excelled and made significant contributions in the field of media and information literacy, specifically in the areas of education, research, policy, advocacy, and the media and communication/information industries.