Upholding the core to provide verified and contextual news amid struggles, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) conducted the 34th Jaime V. Ongpin (JVO) Journalism Seminar on November 19, Tuesday, at the AIM Conference Center Manila.
The event, named in honor of the late business leader and media enthusiast Jaime V. Ongpin, features five distinguished journalists from different fields of the press to tackle issues and concerns regarding the future of media in the country.
The panel included PUP Department of Journalism instructor and Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo, Jane Bautista of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Christina Chi of Philstar.net, Kurt Dela Peña of Inquirer.net, and Pia Ranada of Rappler as well.
The panelists explored the discussions about the ongoing attacks on Filipino journalists and news organizations, the perceived decline of traditional media, and the need for journalists to adapt their reporting approaches, among other challenges.
When asked about the current situation of the media at this time, Bolledo pointed out that the landscape has drastically shifted with the rise of digital platforms and social media.
“The challenge for us is to reclaim the narrative and reclaim our audiences. There are a lot of sources of information nowadays, so the challenge for us now is to rethink the way we deliver news. And that's our challenge now, to be transformative in these challenging times,” he reiterated.
One of the questions asked to the panelists was the reason behind their persisting hope about the country at this time and their dedication to serve the people through their stories.
Bolledo then shared the story of Mary Ann Domingo, a wife of an extrajudicial killing (EJK) victim under Duterte’s administration, and how her story keeps him going as a multimedia reporter.
“What keeps me hopeful are the people that I talk to on a regular basis. People like her keep me going, and give me hope that there's hope for this country because she basically demanded accountability from the cops from scratch. Aside from that I would also like to give a shout out to our journalism students and communication students because I always believe that there's a future for this country as long as there are people who choose to be journalists,” he shared.
Talking about regrets in the field of media and journalism, Ranada shared how she experienced an identity crisis during her reportage of former President Rodrigo Duterte and how it became the turning point for her to find her purpose.
“There [comes] a point when you cover the powerful, you kind of get divorced with the marginalized. It’s just maybe the way the media industry is structured, the more that you cover the powerful, the more you echo what they want you to echo. It really made me think what are we here for? What is the purpose of journalism if all we do is echo the powerful?”
Bolledo seconded Ranada, talking about what he always says to his students about finding their core and knowing their reason to choose the profession to help them keep afloat in times of hardships.
“I always tell this to my students that if you enter journalism it's like vowing yourself to poverty. The pay in journalism in the Philippines is not that high but I always tell my students that they have to find their core. They have to find their very reason why they choose to be here because in times that you feel hardships, you will go back to that core and you will realize that you chose that path in the first place so it's important to know and have an anchor within you.”
Before the roundtable discussion ended, the panelists encouraged the student journalists to pursue journalism even in the face of its challenges, emphasizing its unique rewards.
“I always say that journalism is not for anyone who wants to get rich monetarily, but it is for people who want to be rich in experiences. [It is about] having a lot of stories to tell and those who are on a mission. You can’t be a journalist and expect to be a millionaire. You go for being a journalist because it is your calling,” Ranada said.
Bautista also pointed out that the strength of journalism lies in the dedication of its people, stressing that the well-being of journalists directly impacts the quality of their work.
“We are at the front lines and there will be no news or newspaper without us. So, now that we are most needed, it's up to the management to prioritize our benefits, to make sure that we ourselves can make it through, to make ends meet. Because we report about those people who struggle, but it's hard for our newsrooms to reconsider the situations of their journalists who are at the front lines of this,” Bautista added.
After the panel session, the CMFR, along with the Embassy of Canada, bestowed the Marshall McLuhan Fellow for this year to Pia Ranada, an annual award recognizing exceptional contributions and excellence of a journalist since 1997.
Ranada is Rappler’s community lead widely known for her critical reporting on the Duterte administration during her time as a Palace correspondent.
Andrew Green, the Canadian embassy's political and public affairs counselor, commended her for tackling “complex and sensitive issues” that are vital to the public's understanding of power, governance, and accountability. She is also being recognized for her outstanding dedication to journalism and for using the craft to empower citizens with critical information that drives societal change.
Ranada will participate in a series of discussions across Canada and the Philippines, connecting with journalists, educators, advocacy groups, and policymakers as a part of her responsibilities as a new fellow.
The seminar was attended by journalism students and faculty from 12 colleges and universities from the National Capital Region (NCR) and Laguna.
Article: Rica Labbao and Joanna Martinez
Graphics: Kent Bicol
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