MANILA, Philippines — The Philstar Media Group bagged two awards at the 18th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards at Fairmont Hotel in Makati on Nov. 6.
The STAR’s Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas won the Best Agriculture News Story (National category) for his two-part special report titled “Rising costs brew bitter mix for coffee consumers,” published in April.
The two-part story chronicled the impact of the global coffee market volatilities caused by extreme weather conditions coupled with rising demand on the Philippine market.
The special report provided a holistic overview of the current situation of the local coffee industry, tackling the socioeconomic and political dimensions of existing challenges and opportunities through multiple lenses.
The article, anchored on data, was enriched by the multiple perspectives of coffee consumers, coffee farmers, international analysts, global agencies, industry leaders and government officials alongside real-life observations.
Arcalas covers general assignments for The STAR’s business section as a correspondent.
Iris Hazel Mascardo, The Freeman’s senior reporter and copy editor, won the Best Agriculture News Story (Regional category) for her story “Mushroom farming no easy feat, says grower.”
The story revolved around the struggles of a mushroom grower in Sirao, Cebu City amid conflicting views of politicians and policymakers about the viability of mushroom cultivation in the city.
“Where do the marginalized go? Our farmers? And who do we hold accountable?” Mascardo said in her award acceptance speech.
The Philstar Media Group acquired The Freeman, the country’s longest-running regional newspaper for over 100 years now, in 2004 and has been publishing the Cebu-based newspaper since then.
The Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards is organized by PMFTC Inc. The awards were established in 2007 by then Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc.