Statement condemning the attack against Sorsogon Now editor Bobby Labalan

We, the 2011 Graciano Lopez Jaena Community Journalism fellows, condemn road contractor Joseph "Nono" Yap III's recent attack against our colleague and Sorsogon Now editor Bobby Labalan.

Reacting to an Aug. 7 report on the alleged irregular implementation of a road project in Prieto Diaz town, Yap challenged Labalan: "Nano kay tinitira mo ako (Why are you criticizing me)?"

Yap then punched Labalan in public and in the presence of Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee. The contractor also allegedly carried a gun during the confrontation.

We see the attack as a move not only against Labalan but against press freedom.

We believe that Labalan, in running the story on a project which public officials eye for investigation, was guarding public interest by seeking and reporting the truth.

We hold further than Labalan exercised fairness in his reportage, in concordance to the tenents of community journalism espoused by the Graciano Lopez Jaena Fellowship.

"[Sorsogon now] sought Yap's side before running the story. He cannot claim that it was one-sided," Labalan was quoted as saying.

The fear stirred by Yap's attack against Labalan is the same fear borne of the Maguindanao massacre which killed 58 persons, including 32 journalists, in 2009.

It is the same fear that strongman Ferdinand Marcos used to silence the Philippine press during martial law.

It is the kind of fear that stifles press freedom, keeps the public blind and kills democracy.

Fellowships open for 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop

PRESS RELEASE

August 29, 2012

Fellowships open
for 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop in October

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) will hold the 16th Graciano Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop from October 21 to 27 at the UP College of Mass Communication, Diliman, Quezon City.

Fellowship slots are available for this workshop. Applications are open to full-time print, broadcast and online journalists, as well as selected journalism educators and students.

This year’s workshop will focus on “Media and Elections: Safety and Governance.”

Resource persons from the academe, government and non-government organizations will speak on issues like election coverage, governance and safety tips for journalists.

Since its first workshop in 1985, the Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop has trained hundreds of community journalists. Among the past fellows are Froilan Gallardo, Frank Cimatu, Ilang-ilang Quijano, Jo Clemente, Diosa Labiste, Danny Calleja, Flor Abanto and Maurice Malanes.

Applicants should be currently engaged in the journalism profession with at least two years’ working experience. They should also be below 45 years old. They must submit an application letter; resume; two published/broadcast news reports; a story plan for an investigative report on media and the elections; and an endorsement from their editor, local press club president or a Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop alumnus.

Limited slots may be given to senior journalism students. Student applicants are required to an application letter, resume, sample works and an endorsement from their professor, department chair or dean.

The fellowship will cover board and lodging. Participants will be billeted inside the UP Diliman campus.

Interested journalists, journalism educators and students may send their application papers to The Project Director, 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop on Justice and Human Rights, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

The deadline for applications is on September 14.

For more details, please call Alex NP Tamayo at 920-6864 or 981-8500 local 2668 or email at lopezjaenaworkshop@gmail.com.#