In its citation, the Rotary Club said The STAR was chosen for "consistently upholding the principles of responsible journalism in maintaining fair and balanced reporting, as well as espousing the pursuit of good governance, free enterprise, social justice, and key aspects of nation-building."
Miguel G. Belmonte, president and chief executive officer of The STAR Group of Publications, received the award at the Rotary Club’s weekly luncheon gathering at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
"We share this award with our readers and thank them for their faith in us," Belmonte said.
"Truly, this Newspaper of the Year Award could not have come at a better time as The Philippine STAR will be celebrating its milestone 20th year in July," Belmonte pointed out.
The STAR, one of several newspapers that began shortly after the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, will mark its 20th anniversary on July 28.
The paper was founded by the late Betty Go-Belmonte together with several noted veteran journalists led by its publisher, Maximo V. Soliven.
The Rotary Club award is the latest addition to the collection of institutional awards on journalism reaped by The STAR and its staff and writers through the years.
Millette Mananquil, STAR lifestyle editor, was honored for her contributions to the advancement of tourism and was conferred the Award of Distinction in the 2nd Tourism Award also by the Rotary Club of Manila in rites held last May 18 at the Manila Polo Club.
Last year, columnist Jarius Bondoc won the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Award for opinion writer of the year.
Other Rotary Club journalism winners were Sunstar-Davao as regional newspaper of the year; DWIZ-AM, Aliw Broadcasting Corp. as radio station of the year; GMA 7 as television station of the year; GMA 7 news anchor Arnold Clavio as broadcast journalist of the year; GMA 7 correspondent Horacio Severino as investigative journalist of the year; columnist Manuel Quezon III of the Philippine Daily Inquirer as opinion writer of the year.
Veteran commentator Jose "Joe" Taruc of DZRH radio station received the Hall of Fame Award as broadcast journalist of the year for radio.
The Manila Rotary Club awards are handed out each year as part of the organization’s advocacy to promote responsible journalism.
"Journalism is a communication vehicle that reaches everywhere. News and views around the world reach us everyday through highly dedicated journalists," Cesar Ubaldo, president of the Rotary Club of Manila, said in a speech.
"Journalism is, however, a dangerous profession because every year many journalists are killed. But it is a highly satisfying profession for those who do well and by their admirable work get to be known and are expressly recognized," he said, referring to the series of killings of journalists in the past months.
In his brief remarks after he received the award, Belmonte lauded the Rotary Club of Manila "for its endeavors of recognizing excellence in journalism" and thanked them "for helping us light the torch of truth for our beloved country."
This year’s board of judges for print media category of the journalism awards was led by Tomas C. Banguis Jr., overall project chairman of the awards, a "flagship" project of the club.
Other members of the board of judges were former press secretary Alice Villadolid and Jose Pavia, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute.
Banguis, president of AB Communications, conceptualized the trophy’s design, which resembles a quill in flame, to symbolize journalism providing enlightenment.
Aside from the trophy, the individual winners of this year’s awards were also given cash rewards that would go to their favorite charities.