Yep, still here

Yes, I know, I know. This blog needs updating. I was not able to post anything in this blog for quite some time because I was too busy with Philippine Journalism Review (PJR) Reports and the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ), the annual journalism awards program administered by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). Aaargh. I've been taken over by so many events -- the May 3 World Press Freedom Day, the continued killings of journalists and political activists, Gloriagate, even the issue of Sam Milby's alleged rip-off song "Close To You" (the rip-off issue again!?!) -- sigh, if I could only turn back time. I'll try to post something about these events... as soon as my workload on the June issue of PJR Reports becomes lighter. Aaargh again.

Meanwhile, here's the May 2006 issue of the PJR Reports. Four out of the five issues in the issue are already online, including my article on the recent conference on free expression in Asian cyberspace. Thanks by the way to Jove for posting my photo at the conference in his blog and to MLQ3 for granting me an ambush interview during the event. By the way, CMFR executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus was a speaker in the conference (Check her presentation and audio file from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism blog)

The fifth article, a story I co-wrote with Venus Elumbre on the views of foreign correspondents on covering the Philippines (including their reaction to the infamous New York Times editorial that had criticized the Arroyo administration), will be up tomorrow, I hope.

The main story in the issue, which was about stifling media criticism in the world by jailing journalists, was written by Nathan Lee and our newest reporter, Don Gil Carreon.

Before I forget, congratulations to Ma'am Chit Estella, PJR Reports editor, for becoming the first runner-up in the Poverty Issues category in the 2006 Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI).

To the CMFR interns whose research and help made me finish the May articles faster, thanks too. I'll remember your help when I do your final grades. Hahaha.