A STUDY by alumni of the UST Journalism program emerged as the champion of the research category of this year’s Philippine Journalism Research Conference (PJRC).
Titled “A Critical Discourse Analysis of Misogyny in Rape Reportage of Philippine Docudramas,” the study was the lone Thomasian winner in the journalism research category’s second cluster.
The research by Journalism graduates Marianna Terese Castro, Angel Marie Samonte and Micah Pascua examined the use of sensationalized and misogynistic framing in true-crime broadcasting.
Six theses from the UST Journalism department were named finalists of the competition.
They include “Relational Steering: A Grounded Theory of Navigating Debt of Gratitude–Utang na Loob–in Journalists-Source Relations” by former The Flame News editor Mei Lin Weng, former The Flame writer Rainer Martin Dacuycuy, Reyza Bianca Ferranco and Maria Angelica Luna; and “Hiya Ako Eh: How Filipino Journalists Use Double-Padded Politeness in Navigating News Work” by former The Flame acting Faith editor Ma. Alyanna Selda, former The Flame Sports editor Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg and Loise Van Bantolo.
The other UST-produced theses who made it to the finals were “A Fading Genre: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of Filipino Editorial Cartoonists Amid Growing Job Precarity” by Rob Andrew Dongiapon, Miguel Angelo Marco, Arjohn Roxas and George Joshua Torno; “Understanding the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Influencing Gift Acceptance Among Filipino Business Journalists” by Alyssa Dauz, Katrina Clarice Abella and Danielle Ellyma Bayani;” and “A Grounded Theory Study on How Journalism Instructors’ Pedagogical Styles Help Shape Journalism Students’ Identities” by Krsna Kshatriya Annika Parado, Mary Jade Gale Jadormio and Rain Katrina Tolentino.
Completing the list were “The Role of Humor Through Sounds in Political News Content on TikTok In The Engagement and Polarization Of Audiences In The Comment Section” by Shane Quiachon, Marc Stephen Dalida and Angeline Mae Villanueva.
Winning entries
The University of the Philippines (UP) claimed first place in three categories, namely journalism research, investigative reporting and short-form explainer.
“Hybrid Ethics: A Case Study of Igorot Journalists Negotiating Global Journalism Codes and Local Values in Covering Indigenous Cordilleran Communities” by UP student Marc Andre Esguerra topped the first cluster of the journalism research category.
“UP admissions policy worsens wealth gap in student body” by Allyana Barquira, Margaret Ann Azucena, Marc Andre Esguerra and Elisha Beatrice Umali emerged as champion in the investigative report category while “Sa Alon Ng Kaunlaran: Mga Mangingisda Sa Gitna Ng Laguna Lakeshore Road Network” by Danielle Anne Espinosa and Janna Patricia Cambri bested its rivals in the short-form video explainer division.
The Batangas State University (BatStateU) and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) dominated the documentary and photo essay categories, respectively.
BatStateU’s winning entry in the documentary category was “Pakpak” by Airon Sire Adan, Vienne Rio Schiely Telmo, Rachelle Lauren Cuyugan, Phobe Gyele Ramos, Rio Belle Bauyon, Aian Charles Aldea, Caleb Gzryhxl Abdon, Edvin Lhance Espeleta, Christel Joy Ligutan, Jhun Andrei Liwag, Jewel Dinglasan, Zabdiel Suase, Archie Godoy and Raphael Reyes.
“Gintong Ani Sa Lupang Tigang” by NEUST bagged first place in the photo essay category.
Thomasian journalistic works
The Flame‘s in-depth report “Paying to Pull it off: Students Turn to ‘Academic Ghost Writers’ Despite Policies Against Dishonesty” by editor-in-chief Veancy Palad, Issues editor John Martin Revilla and Journalism senior Kayla Pauline Gonzales bagged third place in the investigative reporting category.
The Artlets publication also earned finalist spots in the documentary and short-form explainer categories through its Traslacion documentary, “Pamanang Panata,” and F Files episode “FIMI: When Foreign Influence Enters Your Feed,” respectively.
“Pamanang Panata” was produced and directed by managing editor Jessica Luna and photographer Elena Christine Cancio, while “FIMI: When Foreign Influence Enters Your Feed” was produced by News editor Rovy Jilyn Fraginal, chief photographer Ryan Franco Verano and writer Alliya Jade Perez.
READ: The Flame report on academic ghost writers wins third place in PJRC 2026
“A long and costly Road: Pinoy PTSD patients pulling through a precarious path” by Journalism senior Frenchshield Shayne Delovieres emerged as a finalist in the investigative reporting category.
Established in 2013, the PJRC is organized every year by the University of the Philippines Diliman Department of Journalism to recognize outstanding student work in academic research, investigative reporting, special projects and photojournalism.
Themed “Resilient Newsrooms, Impactful Journalism,” the 11th conference and presentation of entries was held on Nov. 6 at the UP College of Media and Communication. F
