It was an honor and a singular privilege to be one of the reactors during the “Reaching Out to Future Journalists” forum at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu with TV5 News and Public Affairs Department Chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes as one of the resource speakers. Hosted by SunStar Cebu, the event is one of the highlights in the weeklong 31st Cebu Press Freedom celebration that kicked off last Sunday.
I could claim without fear of contradiction that I was the most senior in that forum held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, which was attended by journalism or mass communication students from UP Cebu, University of Cebu, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Normal University, University of the Visayas, and University of San Carlos. Atty. John Rey Saavedra of the Philippine News Agency and Atty. Jane Paredes, formerly with dyRC and a retired PLDT executive, also attended the forum.
I was simply amazed with the tech tools for journalists, which I did not have in my time as news reporter of The Freeman and later SunStar Daily (SunStar Cebu’s former name), that were showed and explained to the students by Digital Corporate Communications Manager Rissa Camongol of PLDT and Smart.
Cruz-Valdes talked and discussed lengthily with the students her topic titled “The Art of the Interview.” Today’s news reporters or journalists have all the tools they need to get stories from news sources without the hassle we experienced in our time. Be that as it may, they are not as aggressive as we were. Now, some stories just die without any conclusion because they are not pursued to the end.
Perhaps, digitalization is also a disadvantage to the present journalists. Because with digitalization, most, if not all, politicians already have their social media platforms or accounts handled by experienced public relations (PR) people who post their activities and provide information to their constituents, making them somehow unreachable by the mainstream media.
One of the students asked Cruz-Valdes if the press is still relevant with the advent of digitalization. Her frank and direct reply was: “We will still be here.” As the Fourth Estate, the press or the media plays not only a vital role in a democracy, but to keep everyone informed.
With digitalization where anyone could be a reporter and post stories as they wish, the press serves as the fact-checkers since most of the social media posts, especially those that come from interest groups, are half-truths or unverified stories. In this digital age, we, the press, should make our presence felt and remain relevant in these challenging times.
Without the relevant and independent press, there would be an imbalance of power and an autocratic government would be imminent. Today marks the 51st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the entire country by then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and attempts to revise history, using the digital medium, have become apparent.
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Every time flash floods brought about by a downpour happen, the local officials immediately come up with measures on how to prevent the next flooding. The local government’s action to clear the banks of the creeks, rivers and esteros of illegal structures or settlers is a recurring statement.
The local officials certainly know that among the causes of the inundation of the city streets during heavy rains are the illegal structures and settlers that block the flow of rainwater, but they are only reminded about it when flash floods occur.
Cebu City’s mantra “Gubat sa Baha” is a failure. It reflects the city government’s and its officials’ lackadaisical action on environmental issues that need priority more than their political aspirations. More action and less talk are what we need to see from our government leaders.