HOW to use social media to fight fake news and how to create content that connects with the global audience were some of the lessons learned by over 1,600 delegates in the three legs of Pinoy Media Congress (PMC) Digital Caravan of ABS-CBN and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE).
The first virtual staging of the annual media conference featured speakers like ABS-CBN journalists Jacque Manabat and Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN International Production and Co-Production division supervising producer EJ Mallari, ABS-CBN head of International Sales and Distribution Pia Laurel, and PACE president Mark Lester Chico. Thousands of students from almost 100 schools all over the Philippines registered for the event.
Jacque, who is among the first local journalists to use TikTok for newsgathering and battling misinformation, showed the students how she was able to produce reports for “TV Patrol” using an experiment she did on Facebook pages for sale and the answers sent by netizens to a question she posted on TikTok.
She also emphasized the importance of being where the audiences are, and explained how she uses social media to pull audiences back to traditional media, where they can get more information about news and issues.
“Misinformation is already there. It is like a virus. It spreads fast. What can we do as journalists? We try to debunk, we try to give out information as much as we can. But the important thing is we get the trust of the audience,” Jacque said, as she reminded the students to keep their content simple and be authentic and responsible on social media.
Pia, meanwhile, revealed how ABS-CBN is able to make shows and films that resonate not only with Filipinos but also with foreign audiences. According to her, they have sold more than 60,000 hours of content in over 50 territories worldwide including “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” which has aired in Malaysia four times. Last year, ABS-CBN also dubbed “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” “Wildflower,” “Asintado,” and “The Blood Sisters” in French for the French-speaking Africa, while the format of “Hanggang Saan/A Mother’s Guilt” was sold to Turkey, the second largest exporter of content in the world.
“We are slowly being recognized in the global arena as a reliable source of quality content. Yes, each country has a different culture but everyone is looking for the same thing. A strong love story, family and moral values, and an inspirational character who they can look up to,” said Pia, who encouraged the students to continue telling stories that showcase Filipinos’ good values, unbreakable spirit, and capacity for great love and romance.
Meanwhile, delegates also got practical tips and inspiration in their pursuit for a career in media and communication from EJ, Raya, and Mark, who were all former student delegates of PMC, which ABS-CBN and PACE started in 2005 with the goal of giving the country’s future mass communicators a critical understanding of media and help prepare them for the industry. Prior to the pandemic, over 12,000 students have attended PMC events held in different campuses in Metro Manila, and in Cebu, Baguio, and Cavite for 2019’s PMC Caravan.
EJ, who rose through the ranks in production as part of hit shows like “Got To Believe,” “Imortal,” “Wildflower,” and the international series “Almost Paradise,” reminded the students to be the hero of their story by first being a good follower, then becoming a leader who inspires, adapts, is resilient and has a purpose.
Raya encouraged the delegates to work hard for their dream no matter what the challenges they face, as she recalled her experience working behind the scenes until she earned her spot in the ABS-CBN News team and even got her own call sign in TeleRadyo as Radyo Patrol 50.
Mark also showed the students another path for communicators, sharing with them how he has channeled his creativity and passion for hosting, writing, and directing to guide aspiring media practitioners and advancing and rehumanizing media education as an educator and a leader of a professional organization for teachers.
The PMC Digital Caravan, held virtually in cooperation with host schools Biliran Province State University, UP Mindanao, and De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, marks the return of the annual media conference after a two-year hiatus. Attendees of PMC Digital Caravan also enjoyed performances from P-Pop sensations BINI and BGYO, fun games and prizes from KTX.PH, and a preview of ABS-CBN content that are now available on various traditional and new media platforms.
ABS-CBN continues to strengthen its digital presence on Facebook and YouTube with over 33 million followers and 38.6 million subscribers, respectively. It also has the most followed page in the Philippines on Facebook (ABS-CBN) and the most subscribed and most viewed YouTube channel in Southeast Asia (ABS-CBN Entertainment) as of March 2021, according to global video measurement and analytics platform Tubular Labs. (PR)