Students in the fields of media, communication, journalism, and law have gained more insights and knowledge from the first regional conference on media-citizen councils at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) auditorium in Iloilo City on Sept. 16.
The “Media-citizen councils: For the media and citizens, by the media and citizens” conference, which is supported by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and the International Media Support (IMS), featured topnotch journalists and academics around the country who discussed the state of Philippine media.
Among the resource persons were Bea Cupin of Rappler, Paul Nicholas Soriano of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and Catherine Valente of The Manila Times who also led a panel discussion on “Press freedom, self-regulation, and media under the Marcos administration.”
Arlene Burgos of ABS-CBN News, Janvic Mateo of U.P. Diliman, and Celine Samson of Vera Files also led the discussion on “Digital trends: Opportunities and challenges for community media.”
The panel discussions, which were moderated by PPI Executive Director Ariel Sebellino, took place after the presentation and launch of the Iloilo Media-Citizen Council (IMCC) and the Western Visayas Journalists’ Guide.
Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza, a UPV alumnus, led the oath-taking and induction of officers of the IMCC.
After the launch and oath-taking, the IMCC presented the draft operational frameworks to the public.
A panel of reactors that includes Justice Francis Jardeleza, Mia Embalzado-Mateo of the Cebu Citizens Press Council, Jane Cadalig of the Kordilyera Media-Citizen Council (KMCC), and Charley Sta. Maria of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (Pecojon) gave their feedbacks.
IMCC is a multisectoral initiative that aims to strengthen independent co-regulation of the media in Iloilo. Its members include leading publications and media organizations in Iloilo, as well as representatives from the IBP, the academe, business, church, and other sectors.
The media-citizen councils was established with the support of PPI, its partners, and several media practitioners and advocates who took part in the International Training Programme on media self-regulation funded by Swedish International Development Agency.
Founding members representing local media are Aksyon Radio, BomboRadyo, RMN 774, dySI Super Radyo, Panay News, Iloilo Metropolitan Times, Daily Guardian, and Iloilo Bloggers Society; UPV and West Visayas State University (WVSU) from the academe; the Iloilo chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Iloilo Business Club from the private sector; and the Iloilo chapter of the IBP, the Commission of Human Rights 6, iWrite of UPVisayas for the youth sector, and the LGBTQ group.
The media council conference is also supported by Metro Pacific Iloilo Water, Meralco PowerGen Corporation-Global Business Power, The Manila Times, and Pecojon. – Press release
