Daily Guardian senior reporter Joseph Bernard Marzan
Daily Guardian senior reporter Joseph Bernard Marzan has been accepted to the first batch of Media Fellows for Humane Drug Policy 2023.
The fellowship is a project of the Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI), a network of advocates advancing humane drug policies in the country
Nineteen (19) journalists 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. The media fellows, chosen from a large pool of nationwide applications, are the following:
Karlston Lapniten
Multimedia Journalist
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cordillera Administrative Region
Liana Apostol
Freelance Journalist
Metro Manila and Pampanga
Carmela Reyes-Estrope
News Correspondent, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bulacan
Editor-in-Chief, News Core, Bulacan
Mike Navallo
Reporter
ABS-CBN News, Metro Manila
Marc Jayson Cayabyab
Print Reporter
Philippine Star, Metro Manila
Jacob Lazaro
Reporter
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Metro Manila
Paul Icamina
Reporter
Malaya Business Insight, Metro Manila
Noel Talacay
Reporter
PTV4, Metro Manila
Faith Argosino
Multimedia Reporter
IQUIRER.net, Metro Manila
Rambo Talabong
Freelance Journalist, Metro Manila
Kaycee Valmonte
Reporter
Philstar Online, Metro Manila
Ghio Ong
Reporter
The Philippine Star, Metro Manila
Totel De Jesus
Freelance Writer/Editor, Metro Manila
Jinky Lou Tabor
News Stringer, GMA 7 Bicol Region and Basilan
Station Manager, Bicol Star Teleradyo, Catanduanes
Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Senior Reporter
Daily Guardian, Western Visayas Region
June Joseph Perez
News Anchor
Sibya TV, Cebu
Angelica Saniel
News Editor
MyTV Cebu, Region 7
Nef Luczon
Reporter/Regional Bureau Chief
Philippine News Agency, Northern Mindanao
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.
“Putting People First – Media Fellowship for Humane Drug Policy” is open to media practitioners who wish to strengthen their skills and knowledge when covering stories on drugs using the lens of harm reduction – the belief that approach to drug use should be grounded on human rights, health, and justice; and telling stories about people who use drugs should be without stigma and discrimination.
Mendoza said that the Media Fellowship will help shape conversations surrounding drugs and drug use towards compassion and empowerment. She said that they hope to engage more journalists to end the perpetuation of harm and stigma for people and communities whose lives include drugs.
The fellowship, which runs from April to May 2023, is open to Filipino editors, reporters, photojournalists, anchors and news managers in the country who want to pursue empowering stories of communities and persons involved in drug issues.
Successful applicants will be given a seed grant that ranges from P15,000 to P30,000 for the data-gathering and publishing of work. Media Fellows will also receive training, coaching, and feedback sessions with their peers and advocates.
The Media Fellowship is being conducted with the help of Gugma PR, a public relations group helping advocates build impact through communications.
