MINDANEWS founder and editor Carolyn O. Arguillas is this year’s Marshall McLuhan Fellow.
Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley announced Arguillas’ selection as recipient of the Marshall McLuhan Prize, now on its 15th year, following the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar held Thursday at the AIM Conference Center in Makati.
The seminar, arranged by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, discussed the coverage of President Benigno Aquino III’s first year in office and other media issues.
The Embassy of Canada and SunLife Financial Inc. sponsor the annual Marshall McLuhan Prize, named after the Canadian communication theoretician. The fellowship consists of a 10-day familiarization and lecture tour of Canadian media and academic organizations, and a lecture tour of Philippine universities under the embassy’s auspices.
Also after the seminar, Ma. Elena “Ballsy” Cruz, chairperson of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, presented the first Sandra Burton Nieman Fellow to Philippine Daily Inquirer senior editor and columnist John Nery.
The Nieman fellowship consists of a year’s study grant at Harvard University. The late Burton was the Time Asia correspondent who covered the Philippines extensively from Aug. 23, 1983 when she was part of the media group accompanying then opposition leader, former Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. on his return flight to Manila. Aquino was assassinated upon arrival in Manila.