By Lyka Manalo
The U.S. Embassy Manila hosted its 9th regional media seminar that focused on journalist’s role in promoting human rights which had given chances to participants to hear from a US-based journalist and experts from top media and human rights organization in the country.
Media practitioners from different regions and provinces nationwide were gathered which this writer was chosen as one of the participants who have attended the two-day seminar at Multi-Purpose Room Building of the U.S Embassy, Manila which ended yesterday.
A teleconference was conducted with US- based, investigative journalist Ana Arana from Washington DC about Reporting on Human Rights Violations: An International Perspective.
Participants were also able to hear topics on Criminal Justice System which was discussed by human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Icasiano Diokno and Sustaining Democracy Through Human Rights Reporting by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus.
Meanwhile, international law lecturer Jemy Gatdula informed the local media about the Nature of Rights and International Human Rights Enforcement Arms and they were also taught about Covering Human Rights Cases in the Philippines by Floreen Simon, training director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).
Participants were able to interact with the speaker Jose Jaime Espina. National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) director, who discussed Journalists as Human Rights Victims.
The local media also learned some easy techniques and how to use cheaper devices on Creating Awareness and Promoting Human Rights through Multimedia by Ed Lingao from the multimedia sector. Participants felt mixed emotions from the personal experience shared by freelance photojournalist Raffy Lerma through Documenting the War on Drugs.
The Role of Philippine Civil Society Groups in Protecting Human Rights was also discussed by Rose Trajano, secretary general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates.