Nolasco, Gwyneth Nicole V.

J 101: Introduction to Journalism

BA Journalism Asst. Prof. Adelle Liezl R. Chua
J 101 WRV

Keeping the Flame of Journalism Amid the Struggles

Last October 19, 2023, the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar was conducted by the
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and is a tribute to the late Jaime V.
Ongpin. It focuses on press freedom, media defense, and recognition in the journalism
profession.

As they talked about journalism, they mentioned that they did not only learn about it in
university. Most of the concepts will come from their personal experience. As journalists, they
apply these concepts by being updated on current events and social issues. One of the
speakers mentioned that it is a profession where a person is both a student and a teacher every
day. First, they are students because they learn new terms, concepts, and applications. Later
on, they become a teacher by imparting their knowledge about current events, social issues,
and others reported in written and spoken form.

Some speakers answered why they wanted to be a journalist. The first speaker said it is
the best way to fulfill their desire to serve the Filipino public. The second speaker mentioned
that they felt connected with what was happening. As someone who regularly reads current
events online, I become aware of them. After that, I can freely discuss my additional thoughts on
these events. The fourth speaker said that they enjoy telling and hearing their stories. As long
as there are injustices, they still pursue journalism and uphold press freedom.

In the question: "What keeps you going?", they first answered that there are families who
continue to fight and clamor for justice. They need journalists who fight and represent them.
Second, they can see a semblance that things are changing for the better. From there, we look
into its progress. Third, they believe that journalists deliver news, amplify the voices of the
people, and speak the truth. These reasons show how they are passionate about their craft.

They also emphasized that journalists must be experts in writing and reporting stories to
the masses. They make sure that these stories will reach the right communities. They do this by
building their trust in the communities, being mindful of the language, and communicating with
them in a way that will be easier for them to understand. It should not be in a one-size-fits-all
approach because it depends on the nature of the audience. Each audience differs in their
background, so stories must be easily understood and accessible to everyone. Indeed, pursuing
journalism is not just a collective effort and not about the money. It is about discovering the
wonders of the stories that allow us to stick in the profession.

They are also aware of the tools that will pave the way for the future of journalism. The
first one is through TikTok, a “vertical storytelling platform”. They produced this application to
make it relatable through short clips. However, they have gained a short attention span. People
are not interested in lengthy videos, and we see TikTok as a form of mind conditioning of
watching only short clips. With this, they must provide more resources, deliver information, and
remember the journalism roots. Second, Rappler is a media company that shares more
nitty-gritty stories online. They report these issues on point and work with what the audience
wants. The third one is through technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI). They
mentioned that AI is not a threat but an opportunity wherein AI can give feedback on their
articles and identify patterns and data. However, it is only a tool for assistance. Journalists must
not depend on AI, so their personal touch must be present in their stories.

Ms. Melinda Quintos De Jesus acknowledged that during the pandemic, we struggled to
adjust our way of living and comply with the privacy rules and protocols of the government. Until
now, the Philippines has experienced a lengthy period of controlled news and information.
During elections and in the current Philippine government, we notice these campaigns are
marred by disinformation. Not all news and information are delivered due to the information gap
between people in Metro Manila and remote areas. Aside from that, journalists face red-tagging
and killings in the current administration, which makes the Philippines one of the most
dangerous countries. They take every precaution so that they will not be the next victim.

We see this as a struggle that journalists must work on by providing more innovative
ways of delivering the news. One of those ways is highlighting that journalism is an editorial
process. It is an editorial process since students must learn the importance of verification
through research and supporting them with facts and evidence. Aside from that, they must
supply additional strong points to strengthen their claim. They must be responsible for
truth-telling, and they also promote the importance of media ethics as a way of respecting
humanity.