Basilan radio anchors tackle gender-sensitive reporting

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, March 31 (PIA) --Radio anchors and reporters of DXNO-FM Radyo Komunidad de Isabela City recently underwent a training-workshop on Gender Sensitive News Writing and Broadcasting.

The training aimed  to provide awareness, understanding and draw appreciation on the use of gender-sensitive and gender-alternative language as against sexist language that discriminates certain sector in society, particularly women.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Basilan led some 30 radio anchors and reporters in appreciating the role of media in feeding the public of the messages that help in  forming their social values, and influencing decision-making from purchase to politics.

 

“The training provided us with another lens and perspective in looking at commercials and IEC materials presented to us, which we usually ignore or don’t bother about,” Bernardita Hontucan said.

Using the assessment tool provided by the Gender-Fair Media kit of PIA, the participants evaluated one commercial and a news report during the workshop that led them to understand gender-sensitivity in reporting and portrayal of women and men in commercials.

Meanwhile, Julie Alipala of the Philippine Daily Inquirer shared the basic principles in news writing for radio and digital platforms. She provided useful critics of their news writing workshop output and inculcated in the consciousness of the participants to be more critical of their news reports and those being posted at social media sites.

Alipala also emphasized on some ethics in gathering news and news writing. She pointed out some issues and provided some checklists to consider like conflict of interest of the writer on a particular story, right to privacy of source, confidentiality, use of photos and videos, and crowd sourcing in gathering details of the story.

“Always consider multi-sourcing and do not depend solely on one source. It is important that you yourself have the firsthand information and double check facts when taken from secondhand sources,” she said.

She also shuns reporters who are “stealing” stories and photos. She told participants to always give credit where it is due especially when one borrows photos and videos and post them in social media. “Better yet, capture your own photos and videos,” she said.

To complete the training, the participants went into a practicum session live over radio station DXNO-FM and ran a 30-minute radio news magazine program.

The training was made possible through the support of the local government of Isabela City, the Basilan Communicators Network Inc (BASCOMNET), and DXNO-Radyo Komunidad. (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

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https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1020411
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