Iloilo media to tackle human rights reportage

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

MEMBERS of the Iloilo media will tackle reportage on human rights through the Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project’s (PHRRP) “Media Sharing on Human Rights Reporting and Training” at Business Hotel Dec. 8.

“The dialogue is part of PHRRP’s initiative to collaborate with as many journalists nationwide to increase human rights reporting in the Philippines and to root human rights awareness in Philippine journalism,” project coordinator Rorie R. Fajardo stressed in a statement.

The young project is implemented by the international media group Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR, http://www.iwpr.net/) with support from the US State Department.

“We believe that cooperation with the real front liners—the provincial journalists—is key to achieve effective and lasting results in raising media standards in human rights reportage,” Fajardo explained.

At the national level, PHRRP partners with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), MindaNews, and Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD).

They are also talking to the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). 

Through meetings, Fajardo said they are also eager to meet local organizations which in one way or another are members of bigger media groups.

“The sharing intends to introduce the project; facilitate sharing of assessment on local human rights reporting; identify gaps and needs in the training of media practitioners in human rights reporting; and identify and plan necessary training and auxiliary activities which PHRRP and Iloilo media community could work on together starting January 2008,” she said.

Fajardo added the inputs of the media sharing are also crucial for working on the proposal to the NUJP to be the project’s lead partner in the training component.

IWPR Director for Strategy and Assessment Alan Davis, a British national will grace the Media Sharing.

As PHRRP’s program manager and a long-time journalist working in conflict areas around the globe, Davis is in the best position to discuss the project even as he also expressed enthusiasm to understand more the workings of Iloilo media.