The child, above all
by Ariel C. Sebellino*
As twenty-eight media practitioners from print and broadcast took time off from their grueling journalistic tasks and busy schedules, their commitment to their craft and efforts paved the way for an introspective and incisive sharing of practices, experiences and thoughts on how to cover children best.
In one of the discussions during the opening workshop on PROBE MEDIA FOUNDATION’s Mindanao Media Fellowship: Reporting on Children from September 16 to 19 in Davao City, one journalist commented on being politically correct when writing a story about children as not to offend advocacy groups who are supposedly looking into the welfare of children.
It appears that sensitivity and decency are the guiding principles when covering and writing about children. Amidst media guidelines and laws that clearly reflect and protect the interests of children, media practitioners have to constantly remind themselves “to bring children to the fore”. Being the most vulnerable and susceptible members of the society, children deserve a substantial and insightful portrayal and coverage of themselves and their plights on radio, television and in print.
“If you have nothing good to say about children, better not write at all,” said award-winning journalist and child-writer Stella Estremera of Sun.Star Davao based in Davao City, who considered this mantra a must for reporters who constantly scrounge for better angles and titillating treatments of child issues. Another resource person Luz Rimban of Vera Files said that there are still so many stories and topics that are wanting to see print and be engaged in television and radio programs. Radio trainer Mel Estonillo said that it is important to get the message across loud and clear.
“Choosing the right words and terminologies are easy but putting everything in the proper context is another story,” said one participant during a lively open forum on ethics.
The participants were deployed to three different places in Davao City that are shelters for child-victims such as the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth, Talikala Organization and Tambayan Center, for them to interview some children and youth who have been under going rehabilitation and therapy under the utmost care of these institutions. Other sources and authorities were also interviewed.
The participants were required to create radio and television programs of formats for their choice and short news features that embody the essentials of child reporting and carry technical excellence.
UNICEF’s Communications Chief Angela Travis commended the works of the participants. She also encouraged media practitioners to write more stories on children as the world celebrates Children’s Month this October. “Children have the right to be heard and deserve to be empowered,” she said.
The fellows will convene in November for the finale of the Fellowship Program to present their broadcast and print outputs.
The Mindanao Media Fellowship program is organized in cooperation with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilpinas (KBP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), under the auspices of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
See below for list of fellows.
*Ariel C. Sebellino is the program director of the Philippine Press Institute, also known as the association of Philippine newspapers. He served as moderator during the first workshop in Davao City.
Television
• Romeo Luzares, Reporter, Palawan Broadcasting Corp
• Michelle Robin-Bascal, Anchor/Reporter, ABS CBN, Davao City
• Dyborrhae Jewel M. Reyes, Anchor/Reporter, ABS CBN, Zamboanga City
Print
• Danny Sabino, Station Manager, Radio Veritas/ Head-TWG, Kapayapaan Kapatid Council, General Santos City
• Ferdinandh Cabrera, Correspondent, Mindanao Cross/ Editor, GMA 7, Cotabato City
• Domilyn Pico, Writer/News Editor, Periodico News Network, Compostela Valley
• Jovie Yohoy, Correspondent, Bukidnon Daily News/Writer, Anchor, DXMV Radyo Ukay, Bukidnon
• Stephanie V. Berganio, Reporter, Sunstar Publishing, Cagayan de Oro
• Antonio Manaytay, Contributing Editor, Zamboanga Sibugay Tribune, Zamboanga Sibugay
• CJ Kuizon, Writer, Davao Today, Davao City
• Joseph Arnel Deliverio, News Editor, Sibugay Express, Zamboanga
• Benedict M. Serrano, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Guardian/Carraga Times, Agusan
Radio
• Nhor M. Gayak, Reporter/Cameraman, Unypad, Bantay Ceasefire, I-watch media, Maguindanao
• Liza Monteros, Reporter, DXSJ FM, Surigao
• Jeffrey Mendez, News Writer, Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp, Cotabato City
• Christopher Maitem, Reporter, KBP, NUJP, Metro Kidapawan Press Corps, Kidapawan
• Batchieva Madelo, Newscaster, St. Jude Thaddeus Broadcasting Network, Surigao
• Renato Bashir M. Ilupa, Broadcast Prog Announcer II, Phil Broadcasting Service, Radyo ng Bayan, Marawi
• Abdulbasit Benito, Anchor/Producer, Blocktimer DXCM Cotabato, Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace, Cotabato City
• Gladys Fay Cawayan, Announcer/Programmer, Far East Broadcasting Co, Koronadal
• Ruel Dagsangan, Announcer/Newscaster/reporter, UMBN-DXDN Radyo Ukay, Tagum, Davao del Norte
• Dioscoro L. Sahay Jr, Radio Broadcaster, DXDA Radyo Agusan, Agusan del Sur
• Cherry T. Niog, Newswriter/reporter, DXDA Radyo Agusan, Agusan del Sur
• Sasie A. Babar, Newswriter/Newscaster, Radio Mindanao Network DXBC, Butuan
• Rey C. Suravasquez, DJ, DXSP One Radio Corp of the Phils, Surigao
• Pacifico T. Estore Jr, Program Director, DXMV UMBN, Bukidnon
• Marciano Tampadong, Station Manager, MBC Radyo Natin, Davao del Sur
• Rolando E. Makiling, Commentator, DXJM Radio Asenso, Butuan
