Desiree D. Robledo | Faces of Journalism in the Philippines

One of the most important duties we have as citizens with freedom is to take part in our community. We make our voices heard and listen to other voices as well. It is important to take up space and involve ourselves in what concerns us by means of watching news on television, reading news through local newspapers, listening to radio news, or reading news online on various social media platforms. With vast information available online, we can almost access anything provided that it is fact-checked and not fake news. These are the most common faces of journalism in the Philippines we know these days. These are only possible because of the salient efforts of brilliant individuals whose job is to deliver information by any means with utmost truth and sincerity.

Citizens in the Philippines have long been granted the freedom to express themselves and make their opinions heard. All of us are free to speak about things that most concern us and take the initiative to take action accordingly. Even students are encouraged to share, deliver, and act through campus journalism in schools. This serves as a training ground for aspiring journalists to develop their potentials and discover what they do best related to journalism. Those journalists we see on TV, hear on Radio, and read their content were once dreamers and now they are living their dreams professionally. Their collective efforts to inform us of everyday issues are much appreciated. They play a central role in journalism in the Philippines. As citizens, we are called to participate in things that concern us for the greater good. That is to say, our opinions will certainly make a difference when we take the initiative to be involved and listen to others through the many faces of journalism.

When we watch news on television or online platforms, we are informed of everyday issues visually. There are documentaries wherein we can view and gain some insightful experiences. This gives us the opportunity to reflect on ourselves and what we can do better. On the other hand, some people resort to local newspapers wherein we can gain the most knowledge from in a traditional way. Moreover, listening to radio news gives us an avenue to widen our imagination through listening attentively to the matter discussed. Most importantly, we can gain a lot of information from reliable sources online served by certified news outlets and web pages. These are what we commonly perceived as the faces of journalism in the Philippines.

With all the happenings in our country, it is crucial to be informed daily. With so many available sources, there is a myriad of opportunities to learn valuable information and make the most of it. This means not taking anything for granted and learning to fact-check all the time to avoid spreading fake news. Through our active involvement in journalism, we can raise our concerns properly on the right platform. We can share our valuable opinions on matters that involve us and to the matters that will affect the future generation. Indeed, we can gain knowledge, most out of the many faces of journalism in the Philippines. Through our collective efforts to be involved and be informed through the power of journalism, we can gain enough wisdom to withstand any challenges that may come our way.

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Desiree D. Robledo is a fourth-year BSEd student at the School of Teacher Education of J.H Cerilles State College–Main Campus. She used to participate in campus journalism events during high school where she began to develop self-confidence in writing. She finds solace in reading books, particularly fiction, where she can be whoever she wants to be.

About the piece

"This contest piece shed light on the topic Faces of Journalism in the Philippines during the MASTS Virtual Literary Competition held last November 2021. It provides a perspective on how the faces of journalism in the Philippines have evolved from local newspapers to online news outlets in the digital age."

-Note from the author