Public Journalism Interventions for Federation of Reporters for Empowerment and Equality - Mindanao (FREE-Mindanao)

	Members of FREE in an outdoor exercise on teamwork.

Backgrounder: FREE Mindanao was invited to join the consultation meeting with MinJourn (Merpu Roa, et al) on November 11-12, 2000 in Opol, Misamis Oriental. Although both groups are involved in pushing forth the issues and concerns affecting media practitioners based in Mindanao, they work around different objectives and implementing strategies giving them their unique identities. Geographically, for example, FREE Mindanao operates in the Cotabato-General Santos-Saranggani area while MinJourn covers the Western Mindanao including Davao provinces. Some FREE members also come from Davao, Pagadian and Ozamiz; in fact, a journalist may be FREE member already as he signs up with Minjourn.

• FREE Mindanao was founded on July 5, 1997. A core group of six expanding to sixteen from the different radio stations and major tabloids in the City was united in the “strong resolve & conviction” to do something about the challenges they were faced with then - kidnappings, debate over peace agreement, human right violations, harassments, media on the take, etc. (see History of Free)

1. “Public Journalism Organizational Workshop.” After the consultation meeting, a ‘networking/research’ activity was conducted on December 7-9, 2000 in Cotabato City (Estosan Hotel) to meet with the officers and some members as well as identify future interventions with the FREE organization.

2. Public Journalism was formally introduced in a seminar at Lake Sebu, South Cotobato to FREE Members, other media practitioners as well as campus writers from different points in Mindanao. The seminar-workshop entitled “Developing Public Journalism Projects” was conducted on Feb. 23-25 2001. PJ Action Plans to ensure sound governance in the 2001 elections were also drafted during the Lake Sebu seminar.
See attachment.

3. Romy Elusfa, sec-gen, and Ruby “Tibor” Padilla-Sison, from FREE Kidapawan were invited to the Partners Interfacing Session in Manila (Cravings Restaurant, Q.C.) to discuss possible PJ initiatives during the campaign-elections period.
please refer to Romy’s communication dated April 2, 2001

4. Convening the Peoples’ Forum for Sound Governance (PFSG) for the 2001 elections was media initiated and was one of the PJ initiatives planned by FREE. The conveners s were from the academe (Notre Dame Univ.), the church-based groups, Barangay representatives, student groups (Supreme Student Government of NDU), NGOs, civic organizations, among others.

The PFSG’s precursor was the Multi-Sectoral Agenda for Sound Governance and Sustainable Peace & Development in Cotabato City formed prior to the 1998 elections as initiated by Edgar Ramirez of the Center for Policy Advocacy and Strategic Studies on Notre Dame University (NDU-CPASS). Several issues and concerns were raised and included in this agenda for the candidates to include in their platforms of government. It was revived and formally organized (given a name) now called the People’s Forum for Sound Governance (PFSG). This was validated by Kirbee _______, President of the Supreme Student Government of NDU.
(Please see attachment)

5. In April, a people’s consultation was conducted by the PFSG with FREE as lead convener. Several representatives from different non-government organizations and the academe drew up the People’s Agenda and this was planned to be presented to the Candidates in a Forum shortly before the elections in May. Participants were representatives from media outfits, NGOs, civic/business groups, barangay officials, church-based groups, peace advocates, youth, professionals, and others. The final agenda would be crafted after the representatives go back and consultation with their respective groups. The group also agreed on other related activities such as the Candidates’ Forum & Covenant Signing, Fly a Kite & Light a Candle for peaceful & honest elections, Winners’ Forum, and periodic Ulat sa Bayan. In all these activities, other media outfits will provide coverage.

6. Candidates’ Forum & Covenant Signing last May 7 2001 was held at the NDU open court. It was facilitated by various members of the PFSG. It was well attended and covered by media. The Peoples’ Agenda was presented to the candidates then the candidates gave their response by party affiliation. Signing took place.

7. Seminar on Strengthening Media Alliances for Better Communities
    July 6-8 2001 at Pacific Heights Hotel, Cotobato City

• the media of FREE Mindanao requested for this seminar for their station managers, editors, publishers, owners for them to have an appreciation of Public Journalism as the roles of media are expanding, and the community’s needs are changing.
  
• not all of those invited arrived due to change of schedules of some of the target participants, the distance, etc.
  
• there was a very good discussion about the planning of PJ activities doable & responsive to actual community needs in the participants’ areas of coverage.

8. Third Assembly of the Federation of Reporters for 
    Empowerment & Equality (FREE)

New members were sworn in, election of officers was conducted. A report by the FREE Chairman was delivered, it covered accomplishments from the second assembly to date.

Some of its accomplishments may be considered Public Journalism-related activities since the media involved engaged community members on issues of their concern and together implemented actions for their voices to be heard, these were as follows:

• FREE Mindanao co-sponsored a Kite Flying for Peace last year held at the Cotobato City Pilot Elementary School, one of the main evacuation centers for the war victims displaced from Maguidanao. The activity was participated in by groups and individuals who shared a common concern for Peace in Mindanao.
• Two fact- finding missions were conducted by FREE -Mindanao together with some Peoples’ Organizations. The first was on an environmental issue involving the tri-boundaries of North Cotobato, Maguidanao, and Sultan Kudarat. An Australian-based mining firm conducted mineral exploration to the displacement of the Lumads, particularly the T’bolis.
  The second mission was war-related. It looked into the actual conditions of the war torn communities. Outputs were given to the Senate and media outlets for reference and action. Areas covered by the missions were unreachable by national media & welfare agencies.
• FREE Mindanao joined the Light a Candle for Peace and the Photo Exhibit for Peace held in November 2000. The exhibit depicted the peoples’ plight. The affair was held in Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.

Information gathered during interviews:

As of July 8, 2001, according to Kirbee Abdula, President of the Supreme Student Government of Notre Dame University, the PFSG has not held any meeting yet. The PFSG had 18 convenors from different sectors including the student sector. He confirmed the conduct of the multi-sectoral consultation last April to set the peoples’ agenda. CPASS of Edgar Ramirez facilitated the forum. The 1998 and the multi-sectoral consultation outputs were integrated by CPASS (the Secretariat of the PFSG), then presented to the candidates in Covenant form.

The role of the Student Government in the PFSG Candidates Forum was to invite the student sector to the forum.

How he got involved: at the start he was hesitant to join because was not “sanay in big groups.” A teacher encouraged him to join on his personal capacity. After the PFSG objectives were presented, he consulted with the Student Government and they agreed that he represent them.

Roles of the sectoral partners:

NGOs & Pos --- identified their issues & concerns.
Church & academe - moral push, free use of the gym.
Students - identified own issues, participated in the Candidates’ Forum

Who initiated the pre-election activities (PJ initiator)?

• ALL SECTORS.

PJ strategies:

• multi-sectoral dialogues

Media Actions:

• good attendance in meetings
• discussion & participation
• suggested “ulat sa bayan” as sustainability mechanism
• published/aired news, special reports; Daily Program “Hotspot”

Status of election issue: on-going. The next step is the “ulat.”

When asked as to the possible positive results of the consultation and candidates forum, he mentioned 3 outcomes:

• people commended the efforts “what you did was good.”
• Fr. Mercado, OMI & NAMFREL representative commended them. In fact, he challenged PFSG “to sustain” what they started.
• An elected official asked for a copy of the peoples’ agenda.

Some Helpful Factors: 

• identification of agenda was multi-sectoral
• prior to multi-sec consultation, each sector set own agenda then presented during the consultation
• the Church in Cotobato has strong Influence (Catholics, also Muslims)
• media helped a lot in “pagkakalat ng balita” regularly (radio, TV, print); they were “always there.”
• “ulat sa bayan” concept was introduced by media. It was readily accepted bec. of the need for
• sustainability.
• most active members were the media, students, Church (“madre, pare”). They were always there during meetings.
• no “hard sell” by the media, they were cooperative members.

Some Not helpful Factors:

• short planning time
• not all the invited convenors came to attend meetings (6-7 out of 18 members) bec. they were busy with other things. Effect on activity: ideas were limited, tasking was also limited.

Insights of Kirbee:

• learned to participate actively in local issues. He used to not know local issues. The experience was an “eye opener.”
• About the media, at the start, he questioned why the media were involved. At this point , he has no answers yet.
• He is happy about the pre-election activities. He is excited about the “ulat sa bayan.”

NOTE: when asked if the concept of PJ was explained to the PFSG, Kirbee said that they were not told about the concept nor were they told that this election activity was a PJ activity. Does not know possible effects if they were told.