JOURNALISTS from across Mindanao have organized the Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) ad interim that would serve as the umbrella organization of media associations and practitioners on the island.
The MIPC was organized in Davao City at the sidelines of the Mindanao Journalist Safety and Security Training held last week through the sponsorship of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
The MIPC has the following goals: facilitate the welfare and development of the working press; act as the voice of Mindanao Press; defend press freedom; raise the bar of media professionalization and ethical standards; and, provide a dialogue window for media and other stakeholders.
Membership to the MIPC will be selected by the press clubs in areas with active organization of media practitioners.
Media outlets may choose who among its staff would be an MIPC member in areas with no active press club or organization.
Freelance journalists can also become members through individual membership.
The participants of the WAN-IFRA-sponsored training elected ad interim officers to initially lead the MIPC.
They are the following: Editha Caduaya (Davao Region), president; Bobby Lagsa (Northern Mindanao), vice president; Grace Tanghal (Soccsksargen), secretary; Bong Garcia (Zamboanga Peninsula, BaSulTa), treasurer; and Dan Adorador (Caraga), auditor.
Members of the Board of Directors are Edwin Fernandez (ARMM) and Joseph Jubelag (Soccsksargen).
Caduaya enjoined all media practitioners to support the MIPC. (PR)