MANILA, Philippines — A Climate Tracker Asia reporter was among the winners at the 17th Bright Leaf Journalism Awards, which honors impactful reporting on the Philippine agriculture sector.
Joshua Mendoza’s report on the potential role of climate change in the migration of fall armyworm in the Philippines won the Best Online Story award. Published in November 2023, the story highlighted the devastating impact of armyworm infestations on Filipino farmers and the efforts of researchers to combat this invasive pest and protect rice production.
Mendoza, a journalist from the farming province of Nueva Ecija, was a fellow of the Emerging Journalists Network in the Philippines (#NextGen Climate Bootcamp), an initiative supported by the US Embassy in Manila that equips young Filipino journalists with the skills to tell impactful climate stories.
He was also selected as one of the standout fellows for Climate Tracker Asia’s cadetship program.
The awards ceremony was held on November 14, 2024.
