(Manila, 30 June) - Journalism educators from Southeast Asia welcomed the UNESCO Model Journalism Curricula as a benchmark in preparing or revising journalism programs in the region. This was one of the agreements arrived at by some 30 journalism teachers from the region who attended the two-day ASEAN Orientation Workshop on the UNESCO Model Journalism Curricula held 25-26 June 2009 in Pasig City.

The forum was convened by the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines with the Manila-based Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE).

Journalism education faces serious challenges in the region where all countries are rated by the Freedom House as either partly free or totally not free. Meanwhile, the World Audit on Press Freedom 2008 cited the Philippine media with the highest ranking at 62 among ASEAN countries, while Laos’ media was tagged the least free with 136 ranking. 

The UNESCO workshop participants reported that the lack of democratic space does not discourage journalism educators from teaching the basic tenets of journalism - - truth, justice, and freedom. The teachers expressed optimism that a broader public sphere will eventually prevail and that the press, and journalism education in particular, will play a significant role in attaining this vision.

Many of the journalism educators from the ASEAN member-countries said they were not aware of the model curricula. The forum provided opportunity to learn about the model curricula and plan their use as bases for reviewing and revising existing curricula. In countries where there are no existing journalism schools, such as Myanmar and Timor Leste, the model curricula can serve as inputs in planning formal journalism programs.

According to resource person Prof. Michael Cobden, the curricula developed under the auspices of UNESCO were for undergraduate, master’s and diploma programs. The two-year diploma may be taken as a basic preparation for journalism or as a bridge from secondary school to a university program, while a one-year diploma program is geared to upgrade the needs of practicing journalists.

Prof. Cobden was the team leader of the UNESCO Experts Team which prepared the model curricula. Other resource persons were Dr. Kalinga Seneviratne of Singapaore-based Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, Prof. Luis Teodoro of Philippines Commission on Higher Education, and Dr. Violet Valdez of the Ateneo Asian Center for Journalism. AIJC president Ramon R. Tuazon and dean Madeline Quiamco served as forum moderators.

Participants identified issues and concerns which may affect the adoption of the model curricula such as lack of qualified teachers, equipment and facilities. Also, books and other references are mostly western references while curriculum planning involves tedious bureaucratic and academic processes.

AIJC President Emeritus, Trustee and Senior Adviser, Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid, delivered the keynote address during the Communication Research Conference organized by the Philippine Association of Communicators and Educators (PACE) last May 20, 2009 in Batulao, Batangas.

Speaking on “Mapping the Landscape: Global Challenges and Implications for a Communication Research Agenda,” Dr. Braid cited trends and research problems identified in communication and journalism publications as well as an emerging framework and research agenda. Research questions and emerging issues were also discussed.

“A multidisciplinary and intersectoral research approach addressed to impact change would lead to a more responsive policy formulation at both the country and global level,” Dr. Braid said.

Some 50 communication educators nationwide attended the conference, which was held May 20-22, 2009 at the De La Salle Charles Huang Conference Center in Batulao, Batangas.