THE FLAME, the official student publication of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, made history as the first Asia-based campus publication to win first prize in the in-depth reporting category for large universities at the regional level in the 2024 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Awards.
The article titled “From streets to sheets: Motorcycle drivers ride on sex work as they traverse hard times”by The Flame editor-in-chief Zoe Airabelle Aguinaldo, associate editor Joss Gabriel Oliveros, Jianzen Deananeas and Ma. Alyanna Selda bagged the top spot in SPJ’s Region 11.
The story tackles the experiences of drivers from motorcycle taxi ride-hailing applications offering sexual services to ease their financial woes.
Since the awarding body’s maiden year in 2000, The Flame holds the distinction as the first campus publication in Asia to be named regional winner in the in-depth reporting category (large). Institutions from California and Arizona had consistently taken turns in leading the category.
The Artlets student publication is also the lone non-US-based student publication to secure the highest accolade in the same category this year.
In January, the same piece was awarded best in-depth report at the 10th UST National Campus Journalism Awards.
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The two finalists in the category were entries from Stanford University titled “‘They ask for more every year with less and less people:’ Fighter pilots face burnout…” by Erin Edwards of the Peninsula Press and “Inside UG2 at Stanford: Surveillance, favoritism, intimidation” by Itzel Luna and Jacqueline Munis of The Stanford Daily.
Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada, which are US states, and the Mariana Islands, which include the Philippines. Large universities must have at least 10,000 students.
As one of the first placers, The Flame advanced to the national level and competed with other winners across 11 regions globally.
“This award will inspire us to continue doing independent journalism and to pursue endeavors that will help us improve our journalistic skills. We are grateful for this recognition and we are happy to bring honor to UST in the global stage,” Aguinaldo, who was named editor-in-chief of the publication this year, said.
“This unprecedented feat was made possible by our experiences and training as Thomasian campus journalists,” she added.
The entries were judged by practitioners with at least three years of journalism experience based on accuracy and completeness, enterprise and ingenuity, adherence to high journalistic standards, significance and effectiveness, extenuating circumstances, clarity, insight and respect for the audience, creative use of the medium’s unique capabilities, adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics and available resources.
The SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards seeks to honor “the best in student journalism” or collegiate works worthy of international recognition across 12 regions. F
