Australian Embassy
The Philippines

MR0507- Australia supports media on peace promotion through Peace Journalism

AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS MEDIA ON PEACE PROMOTION THROUGH PEACE JOURNALISM

The Australian Government sponsored 11 Manila- and Mindanao-based journalists from the print and broadcast media to attend a recently-held Peace Journalism course at the Phinma Training Center in Tagaytay City. The course was conducted by Associate Professor Jake Lynch (seated, center) and Ms Annabel McGoldrick (seated, 2nd from right), accomplished journalists and director of and lecturer at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney respectively. The course engaged the participants in analysing critically the reporting of conflicts and identifying elements of War Journalism and Peace Journalism in their own editing and reporting. The journalists were also encouraged to adapt and apply concepts and techniques of Peace Journalism in their own professional context, and integrate Peace Journalism decisions and methods into their own work as editors and reporters. Topical issues subject to critical analysis included reporting on the kidnapping of Father Bossi in Mindanao and the ongoing peace process negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

With the lecturers in photo are: (seated, L-R) Mark Flores, Philippine-Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) Senior HRD Adviser; Pablo Kang, Counsellor for Political-Economic and Public Affairs of the Australian Embassy Manila; Jana Esteban, PAHRDF Program Assistant; (standing, L-R) Aliya Sawadjaan, Staff Writer, The Moro Times; Grace Vergara-Tanghal, Newscaster, DXMS-AM/DXOL-FM Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. (NDBC), Cotabato City; Zanneth Tafalla, Producer, Probe Team; Maria Congee Gomez, Contributor, Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI); Ed Lingao, News Director, ABC 5; Darwin Wee, Correspondent, Business World; Joyce Pangco-Pañares, Reporter, Manila Standard Today; Leti Boniol, Desk Editor, PDI; Bong Reblando, Correspondent, Manila Bulletin; Roel Osano, Newswriter/Newscaster, Mindanao Cross/NDBC, Kidapawan City; and Jaime Sta. Cruz, Newscaster, DXND-AM/NDBC, Kidapawan City.#