CITIZEN JOURNALISM WORKSHOP

Everybody can be a Bayan Patroller/Citizen Journalist, even an innocent kid. Any

informations that are imparted through media, radio, newspapers, and etc. Are considered
Journalism.

As a citizen, we have the right to seek, receive and impart informations on matters of
public concerns as dictated in the Philippine Constitution Article 3, section 4 and 7. But that does
not mean, you just have to collect information and then writing it into piece of paper, posting it
in social medias, or broadcasting it. In fact, it should go under the process of verification and
filtration. If not, it will create tremendous problem in the society which is the main purpose of
this workshop is to educate the Youth in utilizing Journalism properly and efficiently.

On the 8th day of September 2018 at the CHARM Pavillion, the ABS-CBN “Bayan mo
Ipatrol mo” sponsored a Citizen Journalism Workshop. Selected students from various Colleges
and different schools under the MSU system were gathered at 8 am in the morning to attend the
workshop which was a whole day spent. In the morning, it was fully occupied with lecturing.
The head of the BMPM, Rowena C. Paraan, did the lecture. “Everybody can be a citizen
journalist, also called Bayan Partoller, by the use of smartphones or any gadgets” She stressed.
We can be a bayan patroller by reporting important issues, complaints, concerns and problem
matters in our community through journal, we can also share the positive experiences to the
public for at least some will be inspired and motivated. And of course, the report should be
Factual, precised, reliable, fair, and free from the influence of powerful group of individuals. She
also detailed out its importances and effectiveness. BMPM is such a great of help because after
we reported something, they will find ways to help us solving it. BMPM had grown wide and
helped many people in different places here in the Philppines.

Right after the very informative lecture was an activity. So, we were classified into 7
groups. We were given 30 minutes of pondering, each group should communicate with one
another in order to collect informations, issues, and concerns in our local area as well as the
positive experiences to represent it after. Debris clutters, MSU 57th founding Anniversary, BOL,
endless traffics, inflation, and etc were among the things that have been mentioned. The last part
of the program was a lecture. Social Media, one of the types of journal, is the topic and the
lecture was delivered by one of the BMPM team. The workshop focused on Social media for
nowadays, social media have become so influential and powerful. In many ways, social media
has led to positive changes in the way people communicate and share informations; however, it
has also dark side. Moreover, the Internet gives youth so much freedom. We now have a relevant
voice because of social media. Granted, there are a lot of youth who don’t really know how to
use that voice for the right reasons yet. In fact, the BMPM team. Instead of discouraging youth,
they encouraged us to use it for the right reasons instead of the wrong ones. Finally, they let us
pledge of do’s and dont’s as a netizen. In journalism, mainly social media plays an important role
in fulfilling your responsibility as a citizen journalist. That is why, it should be utilized properly
and righteously.

Now, that you have an idea of Bayan mo Ipatrol mo, you can be a BAYAN PATROLLER.
Just send your report in the following:

 Emailed us : ireport@abs-cbn.com
 FB page : Bayan mo Ipatrol mo
 Twitter account : @Bayanmo
 Instagram account : @Bayanmoipatrolmo

The report should have pictures/video, thoroughly detailed informations as well as the source
of information. No one knows a simple report can contribute to the betterment of the community
at large.

Macote, Baenisah L.

Grade 10-Ares