AIJC and Gawad Kalinga Partnership in Community Communication
 
 

The AIJC is closely working with Gawad Kalinga (GK) to start a Community Communication Program for the over a thousand GK villages nationwide. Gawad Kalinga (“to give care”) is a multi-sectoral partnership that works with the poor through people empowering activities. GK’s basic programs include shelter, education, health, livelihood and community development. GK founder Antonio Meloto and the GK movement were the 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees for Community Leadership.

Community communication is communication by and for the community using local communication channels and tools. Channels may include folk media, mass media channels, and even new media used to facilitate self-expression, persuasion, dialogue and discussion of group situations.

The program concept involves determining the information needs of GK villages and identifying the appropriate communication mechanisms that could facilitate access to basic information needed. Community members will be trained in planning and producing their own communication tools such as newsletter, community radio, and theatre group, among others. The Program will be piloted in one or two GK sites in Metro Manila prior to nationwide replication.

Community communication is also envisioned to document the continuing transformation happening in the different GK villages. Such transformation, according GK Communication Head Maria Montelibano is not limited to physical changes (from blight to bright) but also changes in the values and mindsets of the community members and even GK sponsors and patrons.

According to AIJC officer-in-charge Ramon R. Tuazon, the AIJC and GK plan to eventually establish a GK Institute of Communication (GKIC) once the program is proven successful. Earlier, GK and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) established the GK Local Governance Institute while Builders Institute was established with the Ateneo de Manila University.

The GK Community Communication Program is supported by the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.

 
 
 

AIJC visits Makati City’s Emergency Center

   
 

AIJC faculty and students visited last 11 July 2007 Makati City’s  Command, Control and Communication Center or 3C. Located at the top floor of the 22-story Makati City Hall, the multi-million peso facility aims to provide quick response to any emergency within the city. By simply dialing 168. Makati City residents can expect assistance to arrive in 5 minutes flat.

3C links up the city’s medical and protective services: The Makati Police Station, Makati Fire Department, Makati Rescue, Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), the Makati Disaster Coordinating Council and the local government offices on environmental services, engineering, public services and social welfare.

3C was inaugurated in September 2006 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is the first of its kind in the country that is funded by a local government unit.  City councilorJejomar Erwin Binay is the concurrent 3C supervisor with Makati City Disaster Center executive officer Hector C. Reyes as commander.

The 3C uses customized sophisticated software that guides the caller, call taker, dispatcher and emergency personnel every step of the way. In case of an emergency call, the call taker would link the call to the dispatcher. The incident is classified in terms of assistance needed. The next step is for 3C to determine which responding unit is needed for immediate dispatch.

The Center maintains a database of residential telephone numbers so that when a call is received, the number automatically registers on a detailed virtual map of Makati, allowing the call taker to trace the source of the call.

The visit was one of the learning activities for the risk and crisis communication course.
   
 
 
Anti-Terrorism forum at AIJC
   
 

A forum on Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act (HSA) was held at the AIJC Graduate School on July 25, 2007 to clarify issues and discuss both sides of the law. Led by Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor of the Department of National Defense, the forum presented the views of civil libertarians, media and militant groups on one hand and that of government and law enforcers on the other.

According to Usec Blancaflor, catching terrorists is only  20% of the job that the law mandates and 80% is preventing terrorists’ acts. He believes that HSA can prove the law’s detractors wrong, if it carried out properly. He also cited the 22 provisions of the law that can penalize the government in cases of violations.

“I don’t think it is fair to expect this law to solve the poverty problem. That will take more than this law,” commented a participant.

Another said, “For as long as there is poverty, government will lose in the propaganda war against the insurgents.”

“The Act has bastardized the use of Human Security. To the fisherman, HS means bring back the sea to us. This anti-terror law is anti-human security. It adds to the issue of human freedom from fear,” an academician remarked.
       
 
Seminar on Effective Communication for PETRON staff
  
     
 

The AIJC conducted a Training on Effective Business Writing and Editing for about 20 staff  of Petron Corporation. Held at the Petron Megaplaza in Makati City on June 18 to 19, 2007, the seminar was well-attended by employees assigned from as far as Bataan.

The two-day course was specifically designed for Petron personnel to enhance their knowledge and skills in business writing and editing. It featured new formats in business writing and integrated the use of computer technology to enhance outputs.  Although communication concepts were discussed to enrich the perspectives of the participants, the course was more hands-on and experiential.

Presentations, discussions, writing assignments, exercises, writing drills, individual coaching, workshop, writeshops, presentation and critique of outputs, and evaluation were crucial elements of the course which enabled the participants to take stock of the information they need to communicate clearly and effectively to a variety of Petron publics. It also enabled them to ensure that communication standards of clarity, accuracy, technical precision, comprehensibility and attractiveness are considered in their various business correspondence.

 The seminar was led by Dr. Paz Diaz, AIJC consultant  who was dean of the UP Open University. Other resource persons were AIJC associate director Ann Lourdes Lopez with Paul Alaras and Florjanelle Dagaas as facilitators while three other AIJC staff provided the critique for writing and presentation exercises.

  
       
       
 
Profile of Children’s Radio Programs
  
     
 

A profile of children’s radio programs in the Philippines  was undertaken by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication in coordination with UNICEF to determine areas of cooperation and enhancement. The study was conducted in preparation for the National Summit for Child Broadcasters recently held at Bayview Hotel in Pasay City where about 75 child broadcasters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao participated.

A total of 64 radio producers were sent a survey questionnaire. However, only 35 responded and returned their completed research instruments.  

The profile has identified a total of 64 existing radio programs by and for children. There were also 27 other children’s radio programs identified but were now off-the-air while others had been replaced by new programs.

Of the 35 radio programs, 17 or almost one-half (49%) were produced by children and more than one-third (40%) were produced for children by adults. The same programs were being aired in only 27 radio stations nationwide compared to the 999 total number of radio stations nationwide.

Content of children’s radio programs include health and nutrition, children’s rights, education, child and the environment, family and home, community participation, and child-related problems such as drugs, crime and violence.  Other topics addressed are religion and spiritual development, children and politics, children and mass media as well as sports, arts and culture, and entertainment.

The study shows the need for more advocacy encouraging radio stations, especially those that are government-owned and community-owned, to produce (or co-produce) more children’s programs.  It was noted that the  “developmental” mandate of government radio stations make radio a natural medium for informative and educational programs for children.

The advent of new technologies has facilitated the sending of feedback. More than two-thirds of the radio programs,said that they solicited/received feedback using SMS/text messages, while 23 programs mentioned telephone calls.  Considering the popularity of new technologies, it was noted that the wide use of new media, should encourage the young broadcasters to “reinvent” radio programming. Also, the techno savvy qualities of children and youth should be maximized in producing/airing programs that fit the visual and online cultures of today’s generation.

A budget of below P5,000 per episode was reported by  54% of the radio programs. Thus, production of creative, innovative and engaging children’s radio programs with a miniscule budget (average of P5000) should be one of the issues discussed in a training program.

Lastly, it was noted that support by local government units to local children’s programming should be examined as an option in promoting children’s right to express their views and opinions.

 
       
       
 
AIJC joins ATIN
  
     
 

The AIJC was recently accepted as regular member of the Access to Information Network (ATIN). ATIN was organized in 2001 to advocate better public access to official information. It undertakes research, analysis and publication on the law on access to information and on emerging issues and problems on access to information. It also conducts seminars, forums and policy dialogues on the issue.

ATIN has also taken the challenge of helping draft a bill on access to information which Sen. Mar Roxas and Cong. Erin Tanada have both expressed interest to sponsor in the 14th Congress.

Among the members of ATIN are Action for Economic Reforms (AER), Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and pagbabago@pilipinas.

According to Dr. Madz Quiamco, AIJC associate dean and representative to the Network, AIJC shall work closely with ATIN in the implementation of UNESCO projects such as the creation of the Information for All Program (IFAP) National Committee in the Philippines and the research on national information policies.
AIJC also supports the crafting of the access to information bill.

  
     
       
   
Development Communication and Knowledge Society
  
     
 

Is a course on Development Communication still relevant in today’s Knowledge Society? How can communication officers use ipods, blogs, YouTube and other new media as tools in development work? Can community e-centers replace the traditional barangay library?

Current and emerging issues on development communication and information and communication technology (ICT) are examined in forthcoming courses at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC). The Institute offers masters degrees in Communication Management and Journalism.

Communication scholar Dr. Crispin Maslog reviews latest and emerging theories and paradigms on Development Communication, and presents best practices in the field. Meanwhile, AIJC vice president Prof. Ramon R. Tuazon will teach ICT for Development, a course pioneered by AIJC starting in 1983. Other courses being offered are Craft of Communication (Dr. Madeline Quiamco), Communication Research Methods (Prof. Jose Reuben Alagaran II), and Statistics Applied to Communication (Prof. Corazon R. Arboleda).

The AIJC is the first to offer Master in Communication Management. The program is recommended for corporate communicators, public information officers, communication educators, media managers, PR and advertising practitioners, IT managers, and customer service managers. According to AIJC founding dean and president emeritus Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid, “the MCM program is most appropriate for today’s knowledge managers.”

AIJC’s third trimester starts on Aug 6. Enrolment is now going on. Communication professionals interested to enrol in the program may contact the AIJC Registrar at Unit 902, Annapolis Wilshire Plaza, #11 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan, telephone numbers (02) 724-4564 or (02) 727-6799; email: gs@aijc.com.ph. You may also visit AIJC’s website at aijc.com.ph.