By Gabriela Baron
People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTV) Davao anchor Vinafel Araneta-Pilapil was chosen as a fellow of the Asian Journalism Fellowship (AJF) program of the National University of Singapore’s Institute of Policy Studies.
Pilapil is the news head and news anchor of PTV Davao and Mindanao.
In an interview with PTV Digital, Pilapil said she is hopeful the lessons from the Fellowship will give great contribution to her professional development.
She also looks forward to giving more to the growth of the network and making it competitive and innovative.
“I hope it will help me further broaden my perspective and knowledge as [a] journalist and because I manage a newsroom, I would like to sharpen my skills in making good ethical editorial decisions,” Pilapil said.
“I hope to deepen my understanding of audience needs that will help me plan out the PTV programs based on the needs of Mindanao which can be picked as well by national platforms,” she added.
After her AJF training, Pilapil said she hopes she can venture into more engagements and exchanges with other media practitioners in Mindanao.
Pilapil said she will discuss the issue of food security with AJF 2023 fellows.
“I am interested to discuss food security with my co-fellows because it is a very crucial issue in the Philippines,” she continued.
“With our population growing to more than 100 million, we are threatened by shortage of agricultural produce, the solution of which is done through high importation. I would like to know how other countries cope with their issues of food security,” she added.
Pilapil rose from reporter to news editor over 12 years at ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs before moving to PTV in 2020.
She won the Globe Media Awards in 2023. -ag
