AIJC undertakes futuristic study

by Ramon R. Tuazon

In 1997, the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) with support of UNICEF coordinated the pioneering study, Megatrends: The Future of Filipino Children. The study attempted to define a vision for the Filipino adult and a scenario for the Filipino family in the Year 2020 by tracking and analyzing issues and trends affecting the Filipino child in the 1990s and how these would affect the future of the child 25 years hence. The “megatrends” observed in the study formed the bases for scenarios and policy recommendations.

Almost a decade after the publication of this pioneering study, a review of the vision and the scenario(s) defined in the 1997 report will be undertaken soon. The aim is to examine which of the so-called early warning indicators identified in the earlier study have evolved into “megatrends” (or have now ceased to exist?) What new megatrends have emerged over the past few years? What new (revised) scenario(s) can be presented?

The earlier study focused on eight areas with each area written by an expert. The areas and experts are the following: The study integrated sectoral studies by experts in eight sectors: Gender and Family Relations (Dr. Trinidad S. Osteria); Education (Dr. Minda Sutaria and Dr. Pacita Habana); Social Welfare and Development (Ma. Elena Caraballo); Environment and Energy (Dr. Eugenio Gonzales); Biotechnology (Dr. Reynaldo de la Cruz); Political Development (Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta); Politico-Economics (Dr. Fermin Adriano; Culture and Development (Serafin Talisayon) and Media and Information Communication Technology (Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid and Ramon R. Tuazon).

This futuristic study is also supported by UNICEF and will be conducted by the AIJC in cooperation with the Center for Philippine Futuristic Studies and Management (CPFSM).

AIJC conducts another round of seminar-workshop for Petron staff

A seminar-workshop on effective business writing was conducted by AIJC for 33 employees of Petron Corporation. Held at the Petron Megaplaza in Makati City on September 20 and 21, the seminar-workshop enabled the staff to use writing as an organizational communication tool. It showed the participants how effective business writing could be used to enhance the process of communication in the organization.

The second day of the seminar engaged the participanting employees in a writeshop where critiquing of each one’s work was conducted. The experience of on-the-spot correction and improvement gave the participants a hands-on feel of the importance of editing. The closing session, on the other hand, taught the employees basic principles of visual design and layout of technical reports and proposals.

The participants came from various areas of discipline such as Area finance, internal audit, commercial services, account sales for cards and gasul in Visayas and Mindanao, market planning, public affairs, Visayas operations, reseller from Mindanao and Metro Manila, materials services procurement, gasul operations, supply planning, law, distribution, acount sales for lubes in Visayas and Mindanao, and credit controllers, among others.

AIJC has new Graduate School associate dean

The AIJC Board of Trustees recently appointed Dr. Madeline Quiamco as the new associate dean for the AIJC Graduate School.

Dr. Quiamco holds a Ph D and M Sc degree in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. She is a graduate of Bachelor of Journalism, magna cum laude, from Silliman University.

She has more than 20 years of experience in agricultural science communication, development of communication media, research and development project implementation, and human capability development and education. In the last five years, she has written 13 major papers in these areas.

AIJC completes flipchart on rights of women and children

AIJC has completed the preparation and production of a flipchart on the rights of and laws protecting women and children.

A project coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Access to Justice Program, the flipchart will be used by social workers and rights volunteer-advocates in the information and communication campaign in remote communities in five provinces. This will initially include Naga, Capiz, Mindoro, Sultan Kudarat, and Lanao del Norte. The flipchart has been translated into Tagalog, Ilonggo, Cebuano and Maranao to maximize its effectiveness and to enable the users to communicate the rights and laws correctly. It is printed on tarpaulin and comes in a water-resistant shoulder bag to facilitate the user’s movement.

The campaign aims to reach out to families especially women and children, local government leaders and law enforcement organizations, schools, churches as well as the larger community who need to know the rights of women and children and the laws that protect victims of violence and abuse. Through the campaign, the target audience will be empowered to respect, protect, and fulfill women's and children's Rights for the best interest of the family and the community.

IFAP Philippines to conduct policy forum

A Policy Forum on “The Right to Information” is being organized by the Information for All Programme (IFAP) Philippines National Committee, in cooperation with the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM) and Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), to be held on November 19, 2007 at The Linden Suites in Pasig City.

The one-day activity will also be an Organizational Meeting of the IFAP Philippines National Committee and its Technical Committees.

The forum and meeting brings together policy and opinion makers from government, business and industry, civil society and the academe to discuss national information policies and related issues such as accessibility to information in the public domain and capability-building for the information age.

IFAP Philippines has organized an Executive Committee, headed by Commissioner Angelo Timoteo M. Diaz de Rivera of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) as chairperson. Vice chairperson is Vincent T. Lazatin, executive director, the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN).

Executive Committee members include: Daniel F. Pabellon, assistant director general, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Jose Pavia, executive director, Philippine Press Institute (PPI); Cynthia Mamon, president, Information Technology Association of the Philippines; Fr. Francis B. Lucas, president/CEO, Catholic Media Network; Susima L. Gonzales, president, Philippine Librarians Association, Inc.; and Ramon R. Tuazon, president, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.

IFAP Philippines adviser is Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid, chair of the UNACOM Communication Committee.

Introduction to the UNESCO Information For All Programme (IFAP) click here

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) 725-4227; email: gs@aijc.com. You may also visit AIJC’s website at aijc.com.ph.