The project Enhancing Local Initiatives for People’s Participation through Public Journalism was born of a need to strengthen democratic structures and mechanisms especially at the local level. It is part of a bigger program called Media and Social Infrastructure Development for Local Autonomy that provides the critical link with the other local governance programs of the Evelio B. Javier Foundation, Inc. through information utilization and popularization of innovative governance practices.

The program seeks to build on the gains and pains of the decentralization process by strengthening and enhancing participation through the engagement of citizens and communities in setting the news agenda and beginning to solve their own problems. Through multi-sectoral dialogues, community conversations, interfaces and experience sharing, the project enables journalists, civil society organizations, communities and local governments to open continuing avenues for discourse on governance issues or topics, such as transparency and accountability, that have a direct correlation to the quality of people’s lives in local areas.

Public journalism is a transformational process wherein the connection between public life and journalism is further strengthened on the presumption that self-government (as a fuller expression of democracy) largely depends on citizen participation in governance. It also works on the assumption that this can be enhanced further when journalists work toward better self-governance.

Public journalism in the Philippine context seeks to:

Develop a new journalistic awareness or talent on how to clearly understand and write about conflicting beliefs and positions underlying community/citizens problems or issues.

Strengthen mechanisms for media-civil society-LGU interfaces to enhance people’s participation in local governance.

Popularize “good or innovative governance practices” through public journalism projects or initiatives as models for other local areas to replicate.

The three-year project is being implemented in selected areas throughout the Philippines. One of its major thrusts is to develop public journalism projects or initiatives that will contribute to the holding of better elections and electoral education.

Its donor partners include The Ford Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung. Its public journalism website highlights current and future initiatives by journalists in undertaking a new kind of approach to their craft.

To date, areas where public journalism is being practiced include Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Cotabato City; Kalibo, Aklan; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental; the Cordillera Administrative Region; Malaybalay, Bukidnon.