The Bohol Chronicle, which had its first issue hit the streets of Tagbilaran on May 16, 1954, celebrated its 65th year anniversary last Thursday.
The day was marked with the blessing of the new corporate office of the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation along B. Inting Street in Tagbilaran City.
Bishop Alberto Uy who stressed the role of media in the spreading of God’s word officiated the blessing rites. A Thanksgiving mass led by Fr. Alger Paña followed.
The formal inauguration of the new facility is set on June this year.
The paper holds the distinction of having been awarded as the country’s most outstanding community paper by the Rotary Club of Manila in 1970 aside from various other awards.
The pioneering newspaper in the province has also ventured into daily news operations through its website www.boholchronicle.com.ph.
In 2015, the paper won the “Best in Arts, Culture and History Reporting” among all of the country’s weekly newspapers.
“The Bohol Chronicle is a newspaper that shows professionalism, uniqueness, and in-depth reporting of culture, arts and history in the community,” said PPI in its award given to outstanding community newspapers in the entire country. “This newspaper goes beyond providing news or information and also inspires readers to get involved, get engaged for the development and preservation of culture and arts.”
The honor was bestowed by the (PPI) Philippine Press Institute, the most prestigious print news organization in the country.
This followed the Chronicle’s winning the 2012 “Best Editorial Page” and the 2013″Best in Disaster Reporting”. There were only eight newspapers nationwide that won the awards last year for both the daily and weekly categories with the Chronicle, the only winner from the Visayas in the Weeklies Category.
In 2016, Bohol’s first newspaper bested other community weeklies from across the archipelago in that award segment. It topped The Ilocos Time and Business Weekly Mindanao, finalists from their respective regions.
Now on its 19th year, the annual awards are given” to raise the standards of journalism in the countryside, seek to honor news organizations not only for editorial excellence but also for their role as catalysts for community development”, according to the PPI.
The Bohol Chronicle was also a finalist in two other categories, including Best in Business and Economic Reporting and Best in Environmental Reporting.
In 2016, The Bohol Chronicle and the Mindanao Cross had the most nominations at three in the weekly category. The PPI awards night had six categories.
Bingo Dejaresco, The Chronicle editor-in-chief, received the award and recognition of merit for the paper.
The 16 finalists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were handed plaques of merit while the victors were given trophies and cash prizes.
PPI’s Civic Journalism Awards is now on its 19th year. However, it used to only give awards to regional newspapers when it started in 1997.
The event was supported by Nickel Asia Corporation, Malaya, BusinessWorld, Journal Group, The Philippine Star, Manila Standard Today, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The Chronicle’s late founder, ZoiloDejaresco Jr., who solely started the weekly in 1954, was the third chairman of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) succeeding Joaquin “Chino” Roces, founder of the Associated Broadcasting Company and the Manila Times while its first chairman was Carlos P. Romulo.