PROBE MEDIA FOUNDATION, INC. AND UNICEF
KABATAAN NEWS NETWORK

How many times have you heard the saying “children are seen and not heard”? This is true in most of Philippine media where children and youth are often depicted as victims and liabilities. The day-to-day reality of children is seldom reflected, and this can have a profound impact on the formation of children’s values.

Fortunately, there are groups of grown ups who want to give young people a chance to speak out and share their real conditions, issues, problems, joys and triumphs through television. Say hello to the Kabataan News Network (KNN).

Probe Media Foundation, Inc. (PMFI) with the generous support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), trained young people from eleven areas around the Philippines, called “bureaus”, in the creation of video reports. Youths from the Mountain Province, Capiz, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga del Sur, Manila, Camarines Norte, Baguio, Sarangani, Dumaguete and North Cotabato underwent an intensive one-week long workshop were they were taught to shoot, interview and write their own video segments. The training helped them develop their ability to seek facts, analyze problems and discuss a variety of solutions with through the people they interview and images they shoot.
The power of Philippine TV is in the hands of the youth

 

Jeami Inso of Cebu Bureau tediously views and lists all the shots in her tape


Viewers of the video reports created by the youths after the weeklong training were surprised at the ability of the young reporters. Their shots were steady and well composed and their scripts were intelligent and honest. They created something that you would truly want to see again and again on TV.

UNICEF provided each bureau with their storytelling tools – a camera, tripod, microphone and other digital video equipment. After they conduct their interviews and shoots, they create their scripts and send their tapes to the PMFI office in Manila for editing and post- production. ABC 5 provides the venue for airing KNN every Saturday at 10 am.

The young reporters provide a unique look at the country. They are 12 to 18 year olds, a mixed group of Christians and Muslims and some belong to ethnic minorities. At least half of the KNN reporters belong to the urban poor sector.
Manila Bureau reporters shoot and monitor the audio of an interview. (L-R) Mae Ann Malabunga, Cyril Fuentes and Cynthia Estole

 

KNN hosts Chiyomi Rances and Atom Araullo take viewers on a weekly journey into the KNN experience


They don’t just talk about fashion, community activities and “fun stuff”, things you would expect teenagers to report about. These reporters talk about issues that concern them and their community and act as vanguards of children’s rights. Their opinions are voiced out in an active, not passive tone.


Up north in the Mountain Province, where tribal conflict is still practiced. The KNN Reporters/Camerapersons and Scriptwriters1 felt that this was an issue that has a profound effect on school children in particular. In their report they say “…tribal conflict puts so much burden on the members of the tribes and ruin the children’s chances for a good education…Unless these tribes remove tribal conflict in their culture and erase their concept that ‘the crime of one member of the tribe is the crime of all’, the children’s education and way of life in these tribal villages will always be disrupted and their dreams of a better future will remain just a dream.”

Ayree Lakbawan of the Mt. Province bureau does a stand-upper in front of the scenic rice terraces

 

Davao Bureau reporters Chloe Goko and Apple Pie Fon (right) discuss their story concepts with Bureau Managers Yen Oledan and Teng Malate (left)


Down south in Davao City, everyone looks forward to the yearly celebration of the Kadayawan festival. The young KNN reporters1 there had a different opinion on the practice of horse fighting: “Kabilang ang horsefight sa selebrasyon ng Kadayawan festival sa Davao…Ngunit sa kabila ng pagkawili ng mga nanonood nito, kami sa Kabataan News Network Dabaw ay hindi sang ayon dito dahil ito ay bayolente sa hayop…Kahit na ito ay nakagisnaang kultura, naniniwala kaming dapat itong baguhin.” (Horse fighting has always been a part of the Davao Kadayawan Festival. Many people find this entertaining. However, we at the Davao Youth News Network do not agree with this practice because it is cruelty to animals…Even if this has become part of our culture, we strongly believe that something should be done to stop this.)

And at the center of the Philippines, the Manila Bureau1 decided to cover the issue of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) by interviewing teens whose parents work in a different country. The Bureau concludes with the statement: “Malaki ang naitutulong ng mga OFWs sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya ng bansa. Pero, ang kapalit ba nito ay ang pagguho ng pundasyon ng isang pamilya? Kung sapat lang sana ang mga trabahong naibibigay ng gobyerno, di sana, hindi na mangugulila ang mga kapamilya ng mga nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa.” (OFWs make a big contribution to uplifting the country’s economy. But is this in exchange of a family’s suffering? If only the government could provide enough jobs then no one has to leave and no one will be left behind.)

Can you believe that watching each KNN episode gives you young people’s voices and images from all over the Philippines!

Media has the power to influence change – in beliefs, behavior, and actions. KNN delivers strong child rights messages week after week to millions of people. This represents real potential to change thinking and values on children and children’s rights. But more importantly, the national TV viewing audience will become more accustomed to listening to those who do not have the power to control the outcome of events. This will help create an environment that welcomes and honors the contributions of all Filipinos.

KNN…where young people speak out and say, “its time for us to be seen and heard!”