Mindanao is more than just a warzone

CEBU, Philippines - The 15th annual Marshall McLuhan Series on Responsible Media forum the other day had as guest speaker Carolyn Arguillas, this year’s McLuhan awardee. 

Arguillas, news editor of Mindanews, centered her talk on the theme, “Reporting from Mindanao: Assertions from the Margins.” Her key message: Journalism is not about people but of service. 

Arguillas also pointed out that Mindanao is not merely a warzone as what many perceive it to be, but many other stories can actually be told from there. One reason why Mindanao has been perceived as nothing but a warzone, she says, is the content in history textbooks that emphasize conflict without even mentioning the heroes and tourist attractions in the region.

“There’s so much more about Mindanao, not just Abu Sayyaf and other rebels. We, the journalists are disseminators of news, but we are also stakeholders of peace,” Arguillas said.

She told the students at the forum that they should have a mission statement if they want to pursue journalism as a career.

Ulysses Sison, chairman of the MassCom Department of Southwestern University and one of the reactors at the forum, said journalists, both professional and student practitioners, must always write with objectivity. He said the media should also endeavor to present solutions to problems in the community.

“We should also present solutions to our problems. Education is making insights, not reinforcing ideas,” Sison said.

Another reactor, Nestor Ramirez, lecturer at the MassCom Dept. of the University of San Jose – Recoletos, said the role of media is to provide an avenue for public debate, not participate in the report. He said journalists should adhere to ethical standards in doing their job.

“The reason why Mindanao is known as a warzone is because there is personal interest that is pushed over,” he said.

ABS-CBN reporter Reno Tallada, also a reactor, emphasized the need for journalists to be sensitive in the practice of their profession.

The forum was attended by MassCom students from SWU, USJ-R, University of the Visayas, Cebu Normal University, Benedicto College, Saint Theresa’s College, Cebu Technological University, and University of the Philippines.

The Marshall McLuhan prize was launched in 1997 and aims to encourage investigative journalism in the Philippines, underlining Canada’s belief that “a strong media is essential to a free democratic society.”

The award was named after the known Canadian communication scholar. The event the other day was held at the University of San Jose-Recoletos.  (FREEMAN)

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