DG senior reporter accepted to media fellowship for humane drug policy

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:

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.

“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.