Joseph Morong is 2015 Marshall McLuhan Awardee

By Fe Taduran
Ontario-Canada
February 17, 2016



The Marshall McLuhan Fellowship, named after the world-renowned Canadian communication scholar, is the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines’ flagship media advocacy initiative. Launched in 1997 to encourage responsible journalism in the Philippines, the Fellowship reflects Canada’s belief that a strong media is essential to a free and democratic society.

The program, with financial support from Sun Life of Canada, provides the winner with a study tour to Canada. This tour provides the winner the opportunity to interact with Canadian media counterparts and to discuss current issues with Canadian government officials and members of civil society. The winner will also have the chance to sit as a fellow at the McLuhan Institute in Toronto.

Eighteen investigative journalists have been awarded the fellowship since its inception :Armand Nocum (1997), Ellen Tordesillas (1998), Sheila Coronel (1999 and 2014), Vinia Datinguinoo-Mukherjee (2001), Miriam Grace Go (2002), Luz Rimban (2003), Tess Bacalla (2004), Yvonne Chua (2000 and 2005), Gerry Lirio (2006), Inday Espina-Varona (2009), Glenda Gloria (2008), Diosa Labiste (2009), Ed Lingao (2010), Carolyn Arguillas (2011), Lynda Jumilla (2012), Malou Mangahas (2013), and Cecilia Aldaba-Lim (Cheche) Lazaro (2014).



Morong was chosen for the distinction for his excellent reportage of the issues surrounding the peace process in Mindanao, especially the discussions around the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. He is currently covering the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He has extensively covered the pork barrel scam and the impeachment of the former Chief Justice of the Philippines.

Morong finished BA in Journalism from the University of the Philippines, and is currently working on a second degree in Fine Arts, also from the University of the Philippines. (***Fe Taduran***)