30 campus journalists join ASoG training on media ethics and democracy

Veteran journalists rallied members of various campus media organizations to help promote press freedom and fight massive disinformation during a training program organized by the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) Executive Education Program and Ateneo Policy Center, through non-partisan, pro-democracy coalition PARTICIPATE. 

“Ang trabaho ng journalist ay [to] inform, explain, [and] educate. [Kaya] dapat nating maintindihan na ang media ay independent at nandiyan [bilang] checks and balances sa ating demokrasya (The job of a journalist is to inform, explain, and educate. That is why we need to understand that the media should be independent and perform the checks and balances of our democracy),” Pulitzer-prize winner Manny Mogato said during the #CampusMEDIA: Campus Journalists’ Training on Media Ethics and Democracy in Action. 

The program selected 30 campus journalists from more than 250 applicants around the country for a four-part training on media ethics and democracy. 

From November 05 to 26, participants went through three (3) synchronous sessions via Zoom that concluded with a face-to-face integration session held at the Ateneo de Manila University.  

The first online session on November 05 covered the role of campus journalists in upholding democracy, primarily as media watchdogs in their respective communities through the sharing of former National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Chairperson Rowena Paraan, Central Luzon TV36 President and General Manager Sonia Soto, and Press One PH Editor-at-Large Manny Mogato.

Joining the second session on November 12, University of the Philippines Diliman Department of Journalism Associate Prof. Yvonne Chua shared the current landscape of digital use among Filipinos, while panelists Rappler Multimedia Journalist Rambo Talabong, TikTok Content Creator Mona Magno-Veluz, and GMA News and Public Affairs Head of Digital Media Jaemark Tordecilla discussed opportunities and challenges for journalists across different digital platforms, where disinformation is a major concern. 

The third session on November 19 featured Ateneo de Manila University Department of Communication Lecturer John Nery, Rappler Head of Digital Services and Lead Researcher for Disinformation and Platforms Gemma Mendoza, and GMA News and Public Affairs Journalist Atom Araullo, tackling reasons why disinformation thrives and the ways to combat it. 

The last module, held on November 26, discussed the role of the media as the fourth estate in a democracy. The activity served as the integration session and closing ceremony of the training program.

Quoting Pope Francis during his synthesis of the training program, Mr. Nery said that the role of a journalist is to listen, examine, and tell a story. “Journalism requires us to be present—to the subjects that we cover, to the issues and the ideas that we pursue. Be present. Go deep. Give witness.”

ASoG Faculty Prof. Claire David also emphasized the operational function of the media in enabling democratic societies. “[Democracy] does not work if you do not have a free press. Media are critical links between the public and their government and different institutions within the government,” she said.

Delivering his closing remarks during the integration session, ASoG Dean Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño  reaffirmed the institution’s support for journalists and their role in a democratic government, saying “We hope to continue to showcase the essence of the purpose of journalists in the country, advocating the truth above all, and recognizing your role as the fourth estate and protectors of democracy and the truth.”

One of the participants, Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus journalist Fatima Riesa Karay, thanked the organizers of the training and called on fellow campus journalists to “let no hurdle stop us from being the voice, and the light of not only the students but the whole country as well.”

#CampusMEDIA provided participants with an understanding of their power and responsibility as campus journalists, and the importance of upholding ethical standards as they navigate the changing media landscape. 

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The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) is the graduate school of leadership and public service of the Ateneo de Manila University. The ASoG Executive Education Program was created to foster cooperation between the private and public sectors for national development goals. For inquiries about training programs, you may contact the ASoG Executive Education Program via email address execed.asog@ateneo.edu. 

PARTICIPATE is a non-partisan, pro-democracy coalition dedicated to engage and empower the political participation of the Filipino people. It aims to strengthen citizen oversight of electoral processes, increase the availability and accessibility of information to promote informed voting, and support constituency-building for electoral reforms.