Bohol media attend Media 

Literacy seminar in Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY, August 17 (PIA)--Members of the Bohol media and those from Dumaguete City, Iloilo, and Bacolod, together with bloggers, Mass Communication students, and information officers from different local government units and national government agencies in Negros Occidental attended the Media Literacy Seminar on August 16 here. 

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in coordination with the Negros Press Club (NPC) sponsored the seminar held at L’Fisher Hotel. 

NPC President Renato Duran, who gave the welcome remarks, said the seminar aims to boost better understanding and appreciation on the complex and critical role of the media.

“This seminar is geared towards enhancing our capabilities representing various fields of communication as well as converging us to share ideas and practices in fulfilling the true essence of news and information,” said Duran. 

Philippine Press Institute (PPI) Executive Director Ariel Sebelleno, on the other hand, talked about “Detecting Fake News.”

Sebelleno shared that there are two kinds of fake news: the false stories that are deliberately posted online even if the person writing them knows that they are fabricated, and the other are stories that may have some truth to them, but are not completely accurate.

He also gave tips on how to spot fake news like checking the source, doing a visual assessment, identifying the central message, checking the “About Us” section and assess the spelling, grammar, and punctuation of the article.

Sebelleno advised the participants to apply the principle of “think before you click” and to call out those who share and generate fake news.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN reporter and news anchor Alvin Elchico tackled the topic “Understanding the Electricity Bill.” He explained the components of the electricity bill and factors affecting the generation charge.

As a beat reporter on electricity, Elchico shared that journalists must watch out for Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) decisions, calamities as they can affect supply which can cause power interruptions, maintenance works which can cause power interruptions for a specific period, and transmission nuisances like structures near or under power lines as well as vegetation deliberately planted to damage lines.

Members of the Bohol media who joined the seminar are: Frony Narisma and Mike Ligalig of Bohol Tribune, Maryknoll Joan Porpor of Magic 92.7 Bohol, Lizlie Ruth Butron of Sunstar Superbalita-Bohol, May Hope Arcenal of Bohol Light Company Inc., Janet Villarojo and Felix Cempron of EdCom Bohol, Alan Nalzaro of Bohol Balita Daily News, Cel Remolador and Jun Gutierez of DYRD and Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

Media Literacy Seminar. Members of the Bohol media received their Certificate of Participation on Media Literacy seminar from Negros Press Club president Renato Duran (L-6^th) and from one of the guest speaker, ABS-CBN anchor/reporter Alvin Elchico (R-5^th) at L'FIsher Chalet in Bacolod City on Aug. 16. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)