Altermidya, People's Alternative Media Network, and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Leyte Chapter brought together seven student publications across Eastern Visayas for "Pagsurat ngan Pag-ato para ha Kalibungan," a three-day workshop on environmental and human rights reporting, held at HIS Capsule Hostel Tacloban City, September 25 to 27.
The workshop aimed to strengthen community journalism on environmental issues, deepen participants' understanding of press freedom and human rights, and encourage campus publications to engage beyond their respective schools.
Veronika Barbosa of NUJP Leyte and Bulatlat said the training was organized to equip student journalists with the skills to report community-based stories that mainstream media often gloss over.
"It is no secret that the only alternative media outfit, that is Eastern Vista, no longer operates and we owe it to the people of Eastern Visayas to write about unreported and/or underreported issues faced by vulnerable sectors in the region," Barbosa said.
Barbosa added that the training aims to "hone campus journalists who can write for and by the people." Barbosa also thanked Altermidya, the event's major organizer, and the volunteers and facilitators who made it possible.
Barbosa further shared that Frenchie Mae Cumpio, former executive director of Eastern Vista, would have been the proudest of the training, noting that a similar workshop for Region VIII campus journalists was being organized in early 2020.
"Unfortunately, the state stole the opportunity for the young campus journalists back then to learn from Ate Frenchie," Barbosa said.
Sessions covered community-based environmental and human rights reporting, media and digital safety, and a discussion on the state of campus journalism in Eastern Visayas.
Representatives from Amaranth of Visayas State University (VSU), An Lantawan of Leyte Normal University (LNU), The Industrial Wheel of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), The Pillar of University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), The Pillar Publication of Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), The Courier of Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU), and UP Vista of the University of the Philippines Tacloban (UPTC) participated in the workshop.
Beyond the sessions, the gathering gave student journalists a glimpse into the different realities faced by publications across the region.
“Bukod sa madami tayong natutunan sa pagiging epektibong community journalist, mas napalalim din ang ating pag-unawa sa kalagayan ng bawat publikasyon sa Region 8,” said Mychel Matnog, Sports Editor of The Pillar of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP).
Gen Feliciano of Altermidya emphasized that community reporting must begin with understanding the people behind the stories.
“Ang karanasan ng mga ordinaryong tao ang pundasyon ng journalism,” Feliciano said, urging campus journalists to engage communities, understand their situations, and build relationships with them.
Feliciano also called on the publications to learn from and support one another, particularly when their right to report and express themselves is challenged.
“Galing man kayo sa iba’t ibang publikasyon, gawin niyong sandigan ang bawat isa sa lahat ng pagkakataon,” Feliciano said.
For Feliciano, bringing journalists together is also an opportunity to improve how stories from communities are told.
“Mahalaga na matuto tayo sa bawat isa. Masaya ako na narinig ko ang mga karanasan ng campus journalists sa Eastern Visayas at matuto rin mula dito,” Feliciano said.
As participants return to their respective newsrooms, the three-day workshop leaves them with lessons from both the communities they cover and the journalists they now share the region with.