THE Philippine Press Institute, also known as the national association of newspapers, will honor the best weekly and daily regional newspapers in categories such as best in photojournalism, best in business reporting, best in science and environment reporting, best in editorial page, and best edited paper, as they take the limelight in the 2007 Annual Community Press Awards on May 29 at the Diamond Hotel Philippines.

This is the highlight of the institute's 12th National Press Forum and 2008 Annual Membership Meeting from May 27 to 30.

The forum will discuss the human security act, bills on the right to information and right of reply, safety of journalists, and the conference theme "Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism."

For the first time, the annual event opens its doors to non-PPI members.

During the awards program, the best practices on Civic Journalism will be cited. The new awards logo and trophy design of the "PPI-Coca Cola Civic Journalism Community Press Awards" will also be unveiled. The Coca-Cola Export Corporation will be PPI's new partner in the awards program starting next year.

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation was the principal partner of the Institute since the first awards presentation in 1997 until 2005.

The annual awards aim to raise the standards for responsible journalism in the countryside, and seek to honor news organizations not only for excellence in reportage and editorial content but also for their roles in their respective communities as development catalysts and chroniclers of events.

The regional newspapers which made it as finalists in this awards season are: (weekly) Mabuhay, Bulacan; Sunday Punch, Dagupan; Baguio Midland Courier, Baguio; Balikas, Lipa; Pampanga News, Angeles; and Metro Post, Dumaguete; and (daily) Cebu Daily News, Cebu; Sun.Star Davao, Davao; and Mindanao Times, Davao.

Past winners of the "best edited paper" were Sun.Star Cebu, The Freeman, Mindanao Cross, Mindanao Mirror Bulletin, The Voice, Mindanao Bulletin, Mabuhay, Sunday Punch, Sun.Star Davao, Baguio Midland Courier, and Mindanao Daily Mirror.

The Freeman and Sun.Star Cebu, both based in Cebu City, are the only daily newspapers that were elevated to the Hall of Fame in 2000. They garnered the most number of awards from 1997 to 1999.

This year's board of judges is composed of Augusto B. Villanueva, PPI trustee and veteran journalist; Mel V. Velarde, chief executive officer of Next Mobile Inc.; Manolo Quezon, columnist and host of ANC's The Explainer; Angelina R. Enriquez-Borican, director of the Research Management Office and faculty member of the College of Communication of Polytechnic University of the Philippines; and, Dr. Donna Paz T. Reyes, executive director of the Environmental Studies of Miriam College.

workshops and forums.