Civic Journalism Going Beyond Print: PPI holds Seminar-Workshops in Gensan

Through the advent of internet and social media, the local newspapers is facing a challenge not to hesitate in using newer forms of media in reporting the news, including multimedia reporting. The print journalists are encourage to consider digital multimedia reporting as the way to go, this is a way to attract readers and survive in today’s digital age.


So what is civic journalism? What are the essentials? How is it different from other kinds of journalism—or is it different at all? How can print publications also practice good multimedia reporting? These are among the key issues discussed during the seminar-workshop on “Civic Journalism: Going Beyond Print” -- recently conducted by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) from March 19 to 21 at Stonewood Hotel, General Santos City, with support from Nickel Asia Corporation and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation. About 20 reporters and editors from PPI member-newspapers in Mindanao participated in the seminar-workshop, which includes write shop, field work, and critique. Selected campus journalist also take part in the activity.


What is Civic Journalism?

According to Michelle P. So – a resource person in the seminar-workshop, “Civic journalism is reporting of a public concern using the voice of a community to bring about awareness and discussion of, and action on, that concern.” It means we report what our community cares about. We listen to what the ordinary people have to say and bring this up to the local government. It's covering the news “from the citizens up, not from the expert down.”

Ariel Sebellino, PPI Executive Director, explained that “Civic journalism is not there to compete with other types of journalism. It in fact reinforces other forms of journalism. It reinforces excellence in reporting and journalism’s role to the society.”


May Anne Cacdac, who serves currently as PPI trustee for Luzon, provided tips and pointers on how to write the prospectus – a template on writing the story output. Likewise, Tess Bacalla provided the tips and techniques for writing online based story or the so-called “Visual Storytelling.”