ABS-CBN News broadcast journalist and anchor Gigi Grande received one of the highest honors for journalists and communicators. She was recognized with the 2016 Marshall McLuhan Fellowship citation at the conclusion of the annual Jaime V. Ongpin journalism seminar on Sept. 28 in Makati.
Other ABS-CBN journalists that won the distinguished award include Lynda Jumilla-Abalos, Gerry Lirio, and Luz Rimban.
The award, presented by Canada’s Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines, John Holmes, is named after the Canadian communications scholar. The Fellowship is the Canadian Embassy’s flagship media advocacy initiative launched in 1997 to foster responsible journalism in the Philippines, reflecting Canada’s belief that a strong media is essential to a free and democratic society.
Under the Fellowship, and with financial support from Sun Life of Canada, the winner undertakes a speaking tour in Canada as well the Philippines.
In Canada, the tour provides an opportunity for the Fellow to interact with Canadian media counterparts and to discuss current issues with Canadian government officials and members of civil society. The awardee will also have the chance to sit as a fellow at the McLuhan Institute in Toronto.
Grande was chosen for the distinction for her excellent reportage of the various issues surrounding the campaign and the national elections that took place earlier this year.
She is one of the anchors in Mornings @ANC on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel. She used to be the news bureau chief of ABS-CBN News Australia.