UP CMC awards 18 fellowships in 17th Graciano Lopez Jaena Community Journalism Workshop on Disaster Reporting

MALOLOS CITY—Eighteen journalists, educators and students including the administrator of Promdi News are this year’s fellows in the 17th Graciano Lopez Jaena Community Journalism Workshop.

This was announced on Sunday by Danilo Arao, associate dean of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications (UP-CMC) in his blog “Rising Sun.”

Arao is a member of the organizing committee for the 17^th 17th Graciano Lopez Jaena Community Journalism Workshop on Disaster Reporting which will be held at Plaridel Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City from October 13 to 19.

The 14 fellows who are either journalists or educators are Bernardino Balabo ( Promdi News), Jefferson Caparas (TV5), Janess Ann Ellao (Bulatlat.com), Ofelia Empian (Baguio Chronicle), Marvin David Ferraz (Rappler), Charmaine Ivy Hernando (St. Mary’s University), Ainjeliz Orong (The Freeman Newspaper), Carla Padilla (Central Luzon State University [CLSU] and Cabanatuan Herald), Jessa Mardy Polonio (Baguio Chronicle), Rommel Rutor (DYMS Aksyon Radyo), Macey Salabit (Dyaryo Veritas), John Rizle Saligumba (Davao Today), Seymour Sanchez (Far Eastern University) and Divina Suson (DXRJ Iligan).

The four students admitted as fellows are Iza Darlene Cay (Tinig ng Plaridel and Vera Files), Luis Adrian Hidalgo (Tinig ng Plaridel), Candeze Mongaya (Project NOAH and former reporter of Cebu Daily News) and Vince Alvic Nonato (Vera Files). All of them are students of UP CMC.

The 18 fellows were chosen on the basis of their professional background, sample works and story idea for an article they should write during the workshop.

The speakers for the workshop are Prof. Luis Teodoro (Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and former UP CMC dean), Dr. Georgina Encanto (former UP CMC dean), Marites Vitug (Rappler), Ed Lingao (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism), Dr. Diosa Labiste (UP Department of Journalism), Prof. Ma. Gisella Dizon-Reyes (UP College of Law) and Dr. Benito Pacheco (UP College of Engineering).

Grace Morales and Editha Tiamson whose loved ones were victims of the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre will also speak during the workshop, along with Melanie Pinlac of CMFR. The urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) will help facilitate the field work for the 18 fellows.

Aside from Arao,other members of the organizing committee for the workshop are Dean Roland Tolentino,Department of Journalism Chair Lucia Tangi, former Dean Luis Teodoro, Office of Extension and External Relations (OEER) Director Patrick Campos, Administrative Officer Gina Villegas, Office of Research and Publication staff Alex Tamayo and OEER staff Regina Mendez. CLSU Prof. Ben Domingo is the workshop moderator.