TO RECOGNIZE the work of media organizations and practitioners in the Western Visayas region, the University of the Philippines recently launched the BANTALA: The UPV Media Excellence Awards.

Chancellor Clement Camposano and Dr. Zoilo Andrada Jr., Project Development assistant for Mass Media and Communications of the Office of the Chancellor, will spearhead the media awards program.

“The program evaluates and recognizes the covering, writing, reporting and publishing of news stories and events on different media platforms. It uses the Hiligaynon term ‘bantala,’ which refers to announcement, information, news, publication, or notification. As a verb, the word means to publish, inform, and advise,” UPV said.

“Themed ‘Medya: Kaupod sang rehiyon sa Pagtib-ong sang Tunay nga Demokrasya,’ the awards will judge published stories about events in Western Visayas be it in print, radio or online news outlets, blogs, or social media,” it added.

To be included in the competition, entries must be published from April 2021 to January 2022.

“Stories should focus on four themes — deepening participatory democracy, protecting human rights and fighting corruption, fighting against disinformation, and addressing various forms of marginalization,” it said.

“There will be two major award categories — Category A which includes newspapers and radio; and Category B which covers blogs, social media campaigns and advocacy, and news portals,” it added.

Languages which are eligible for awards are English, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, and Aklanon.

“Journalists, as the frontaliners in combatting disinformation, have a lot of stories to tell. Stories that sometimes put their lives at risk,” Andrada said.

Camposano, on the other hand, said that society is “flooded with user-generated content.”

“We no longer know what’s factual or what’s not. The media is now faced with challenges such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Media has a more crucial role to play as the challenges it faces are becoming more complex. The watchdog function of the media has become more salient,” Camposano said.