Monday, September 29, 2008 Editorial: All in a day’s work
UNDER certain circumstances, heavy traffic is a good thing.
For instance, during the 14th Cebu Press Freedom Week held last Sept. 20-27, the communication from and to media, its sources and its public was open, two-way and unimpeded.
This attempt to balance the flow of communication in today’s media-centric world is significant for a celebration that annually remembers Sept. 21, the imposition of martial law in the country, and applies its most important lesson: that no power, even that of the press, should silence the freedom to access of information.
Talking points
Local media institutions, particularly that of print, and the private sector sponsored several fora, exhibits, film shows and other continuous learning opportunities that were open to students and faculty, professionals and other members of civil society.
The Press Freedom lectures and discussions draw the local academic community as these are rare opportunities to compare and contrast journalism theory and practice, with speakers from the working media, government and the private sector.
This year, Mindanao-based editors of the Sun.Star network participated, diversifying for many Cebuanos their awareness of community journalism practices, constraints and challenges.
Recent trends support the growing perception of Mass Communications as a viable career path. For instance, Cebu, the education hub in Visayas and Mindanao, at present has seven colleges with a degree program in Mass Communication, a significant growth spurt from the three schools offering this course for several years.
This year’s Press Freedom fora gathered multi-disciplinary professionals to address media and technology, community journalism, media legislation, effective self-presentation and communication, and good communication practices in crisis management.
New vistas
Students directly benefited from their exposure to the diverse fields of communication careers. As Bobby Nalzaro commented during the open forum of the Sept. 24 panel discussion, “Reaching out to Future Journalists,” students need not think their course choice of Mass Communication destined them only for the newsroom. Nalzaro is a multi-awarded commentator, with radio, TV and print as his portals.
The overarching theme in the Press Freedom fora was raising the awareness of the competencies and specializations awaiting “future journalists.” This term does not only refer to Mass Communication undergraduates but also includes working journalists and media owners who are open to newsroom convergence.
This message was the reiterated during the Sept. 22 forum on “Media and Technology.” Speakers were Mel Velarde, Philippine Commissioner to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), and Glenda Gloria, chief operating officer of the ABS-CBN News Channel and managing editor of Newsbreak online magazine.
While newsrooms have to consider the requirements and process of turning “flat” newsrooms into ones converging the traditional and new portals of communication, the speakers emphasized the need for schools to revise curricula, update teaching techniques, improve laboratories and other facilities, and network with industry to train Mass Communication graduates to navigate the brave new world of journalism, where the medium is still the message but in multidimensional formats.
Not “us” versus “them”
While traditional journalism emphasizes the importance of adversarial relations between reporters and news sources, Judd Salas emphasized the importance of “good communication in crisis management.” The corporate communications manager of the Aboitiz Transport Services presented his points during the Sept. 25 forum, “Putting out the Fire.”
Other news managers in the corporate communications and news media industries commented on Salas’ presentation, reinforcing that journalists and public relations professionals should understand each other’s protocols and processes in handling information when a crisis affects not just private entities but the public.
This willingness to make strategic alliances is all in a day’s work for Cebu media and partners. Salas exhorted, “let’s work together.” Wearing the hat of community journalists means “covering the community they serve, serving the community they cover,” in the timeless phrase of Sun.Star Cebu editor-in-chief Pachico A. Seares, this year’s Gawad Plaridel awardee, the first community journalist given the tribute by the University of the Philippines.
