Meeting The Explainer and taking about Challenges of New Media

“Irene Sharie Francisco is going to be attending a talk and blog about whatever The Explainer will be explaining.” This is currently my Facebook status message before I left home, rushing to UP because again I woke up late from staying up online till 3am.

In celebration of Cebu Press Freedom, Mass Communication and Journalism students were invited in a symposium titled Reaching Out to Future Journalists: Challenges of New Media; this event was sponsored by Smart Communication and Sun Star. Invited guest speaker is Manuel "Manolo" L. Quezon III aka The Explainer; joined by Jesus B. Garcia Jr, Nini Cabero and Max Limpag of Sun.Star Publishing Inc. as panelists. Like all other journalists and media outlets, The explainer has also conquered and made a name in the world wide web through his blog and other social networking accounts aside from being a columnist and commentator.

This isn’t the first that I attended a talk that tackled about the role and challenges of new technology and the emerging new forms of media to present and future journalists, yet attending such forums always remind me of how important it is to effectively work hand in hand with technology while maintaining and practicing ethical journalism.

With the emergence of citizen journalism, it is the journalists’ role to provide integrity and serve as gatekeepers to make sure sources are checked and that the information served is reliable and truthful. Verifying the sources and eliminating which is fictitious is a skill that genuine journalists develop through time and experience; something that a blogger, no matter how well opinionated, educated or creative will probably never or seldom achieve.

The panel provided the history, the future and current issues surrounding this new form of media, particularly it's manifestation on the young and forthcoming journalists, in a nutshell. The Explainer, like what he always does in his show with the same title, showed and elaborated the topic through the use of pictures and was even kind enough to give out tips and tricks in so not to be tangled in the high speed and ever changing world wide web.

One of the highlights of the speakers was the power of the Internet and mobile technology to spread, manipulate, alter and create "reality"; thus becoming a double edge sword to those who rarely have time to verify what they read, hear or see online.

In accordance to the subject and theme, the event was not only graced by the men and women of media or students that were taking related disciplines of communication or journalism, but bloggers were also invited in the said event. Through the help of Smart Communication's newest wireless broadband technology, Smart Bro, these bloggers were asked to buzz the blogosphere about the ongoing activity held at the UP Cebu campus. After which were asked to show the audience their personal or public blog sites. I was one of those bloggers that were invited to write about the event and felt proud in showing off this humble online space of mine.

By the way, I was joined by my three other classmates in Mass communication and they all agreed that they were able to pick up several points on how to be an efficient and effective journalists, its importance compared to just throwing off their two cents worth without proper research or knowledge. Leemark even added " In connection to that, digital world doesn’t affect journalists. It opens the will of the non-journalist to express their views and feelings. Everyone can be a journalist indeed we must be everywhere." In here he agrees with one of the guest speakers that even though technology has made the work of media men easier and faster, technology doesn't create or build up the story nor the news; it's a mere vehicle to make the news reach a broader audience, it is still the journalists' brain that keeps people constantly interested, entertained and informed.

KISS. Keep it short and simple. Mr. Quezon's tip in order to keep the readers interested. So I'm ending it here. In total, it was another thought provoking and enriching symposium. I was never a fan of Mr. Quezon's ANC TV show, nor do I even stop and read his column in the daily but I was simply fascinated by how he was able to deliver such complex topic with simplicity - I was awed and starstucked at the same time. (He did smile and paid attention while I was presenting my blog to the audience, or maybe so I thought, I do wish though) LOL.

P.S.
I wish I had pictures to post with this entry but as of 5pm this afternoon, no pictures of the event proliferated online, I was so spaced out, I forgot to bring my camera. So here is a picture I grabbed from google. And if you do want to check Mr. Quezon's blog just click me!

TYVM!

week

It was some week.
Like I was drugged or something close to that.
It was seven and a half days of nothing but tasting what it was like to be in the realm of
what they say was heaven, hell and whatever it was in the middle.
It was those nights that turned into early morning bliss, most of them I was intoxicated.
although until now I can still feel and hear my heart, like a strong beating of jumbo china drums.
There were nights when I couldn't sleep until breaking dawn and by the time I woke up,
I would turn on my TV, half asleep waiting for a song to play. That specific song that had a
cup of coffee, it's that song that reminded me of ...

It was some week.
I always thought that you were good looking.
I specifically liked the smile, the best was the one you flashed when I first noticed your existence.
Then it was in that cool thursday afternoon, among a swarm of estranged and strangers
when I first noticed how really a looker you are.
It was also on the same day when I realized Alanis Morisette's lyric " I met the man of my dreams
and meeting his beautiful wife. Well isn't it Ironic?" can be real and mortalize.

It was some week.
So, there maybe things that you would feel, sense and figure out that you might not really fully understand, unless
I say it directly.
I was never good in hiding my feelings from anybody but I was better with hiding the truth behind those feelings from
everyone.

It was some week.
I was struggling. Once again, I placed my heart in my sleeves, which I shouldn't have done in the first place.
It was unconscious. I was drugged or so I thought I was or wished I was; by that laugh, by that look, by that feeling of temporary madness.
Which I'm pretty sure for you was nothing but just temporary and nothing close to that kind of madness I am talking about.

But it was some week.
It was that week when I felt like I was never gonna be the same person that I was that monday; it was tuesday by the way
when I finally got the chance to mingle with that person who I, at one point, embarrassed myself by anonymously sms-ing out of the blue.

It was some week
When you called me names, although some hurt, I knew or maybe I hoped that you never really meant them.
I could never call you names and even if you say I did, it wasn't real nor did you deserve it.
It was on that same week when I was working on something that was extremely important to me.
There were no emails, no friend requests... then I sadly came upon the realization what was important to me was nothing
close to importance for you.

It was a good seven and a half
I was most of the time intoxicated and often times short of breath.
it was some week, indeed a good week.

Kimmydora, Thank yous and Silent Sanctuary

Thank you.
For those who greeted me on facebook, multiply, friendster and through SMS. I had the simplest birthday this year - no parties, nothing extravagant but it felt soo much meaningful than last year. I did charity this year and prepared dinner with for my family. A few of my friends surprised me for my birthday and gave me a very lovely chocolate cake (that I appreciate soo much). I also had a on the spot spur of the moment bonding with my highschool barkada and a send off party at the same time for Pia. I met with my family for dinner at Parkmall and Tita Vicky gave me a box of KrispyKremes (oh how I just love their cookies and cream variant), my brother and my dad ate most of the donuts, I wasn't in my sweet-tooth mood that time. While waiting for dinner, I spent the afternoon with Swanie. We had Calda and did some karaoke. We sang Bohemian Rhapsody to our heart's content and tantan was in her Mariah Carey self. I just love spending time with Swanie!

I was looking forward to watch kimmydora with Dianne but she had to cancel on the last minute to attend to some errands and with her studies. I'm drinking with Faith in awhile.

I don't really know what to blog, it was a long weekend and my head ached cause I was just lying in bed the whole two days watching repeats of The Apprentice Season 1 and the usual staples on TV. Last friday, I went home though at 6am, Pia was drunk, thats a first! =)

I am loving the new Silent Sanctuary Video - I am in love with the story rather than the music but what the heck, makes me wanna vote for it to stay on MYX for the next few weeks, last I checked its at number 6... I came to like Hale's Bahay Kubo too.