22 awarded fellowships in 16th UP-CMC Community Journalism Workshop

PRESS RELEASE
5 October 2012

22 awarded fellowships in 16^th UP-CMC  Community Journalism Workshop

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) has chosen 17 print, broadcast and online journalists and 5 graduating journalism student as fellows in the 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop.

This year’s workshop focuses on, Media and Elections: Safety and Governance. It will be held at the CMC Plaridel Hall in UP Diliman from October 21 to 27.

The fellows are Rebelander Basilan (Sun Star Cebu), Carlo Lorenzo Datu (PIA Pampanga), Jay Dayupay  (ABS-CBN Socsargen), Danilo R. Dela Cruz (TV5), Chantal Eco (Tudla Productions), Mike Escobar ( PTV 4 Vigan), Benjie Felipe  (TV5), Nef Luczon (BusinessWorld) , Gerthrode Charlotte T. Mabilog ( GMA 7-Iloilo), Sam Montuya (Tudla Productions), Ace Morandante (RCPA Davao City), Jetty Ayop-Ohaylan (RCPA Productions),  Che Ongteco (ABS-CBN), April Rose Torion (Educator/Bukidnon News), Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan ( Davao Today),  and Edgie Uyanguren (DZUP).

The students admitted as fellows are Krizia S. Arcangel (BA Journ-UP Diliman), Chary Grace Baniqued (BA Communications, CLSU), Jose Santino Bunachita (BA Mass Comm , UP Cebu),  Jhesset Enano (BA Journ, UP Diliman), Mikhail Franze E. Flores (BA Journ, UP Diliman), and Mike Ariel Plaza (BA Journ, MSU).

The 22 fellows were chosen on the basis of their professional background, sample works and story idea for an article they should write during the workshop.

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

A statement of the 15th Graciano Lopez Jaena Community Journalism Fellows on the Cybercrime Law

With the Cybercrime Law in effect, democracy is fast becoming more illusory.

The Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law tramples upon our hard-earned freedoms – the right to free speech, the right to free expression, the right to a free press and the right to privacy. Putting restrictions on the internet contravenes our rights guaranteed by the highest law of the land, the Philippine Constitution and violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Philippine government is a signatory.

It is dangerous. The broad and vague definition of cybercrimes renders all citizens, including journalists who are heavy internet users, vulnerable to being charged of the crime. For one, the mere alteration, damaging, deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document or electronic data message may be considered criminal.

The law also strengthens libel that has been used to muzzle the press. As it is, libel as a criminal offense violates our constitutional rights. The powers-that-be file libel cases against our fellow journalists for the mere exercise of our duty to tell the truth. Cybercrime law has made it even worse with minimum punishment for online libel raised twelve-fold. A mere status update on Facebook may be deemed defamatory and all those who would like and share it may be liable for “aiding or abetting the commission of cybercrime.”

Another monstrous provision pertains to the real-time collection of traffic data. It allows authorities to act as Big Brother in the cyberspace, monitoring electronic activities.

Section 19 of the law provides the Department of Justice the unbridled power to block or restrict access to computer data if found prima facie to be in violation of the law. The Justice Secretary, acting as judge and executioner, may order the take down of any website, or even an account to a social networking site without due process.

The passage of the law, coupled with inaction on bills that promote transparency and openness (i.e. Freedom of Information, Decriminalization of Libel), reveals the paranoia of the Aquino administration. If those in government cannot tolerate the slightest criticism from ordinary citizens, democracy would just be sugar-coated authoritarianism.

For all these reasons, we join the widening clamor for the junking of the Anti-Cybercime Law.

For reference:
Ronalyn V. Olea
Bulatlat.com