PIA Nationwide News Releases

Commentary: Media changes behavior of people

by A. Lumaque

Roxas City (18 May) -- “Go out and make stories which make a difference in the lives of your audience.”

This was the challenge of Probe Media Foundation, Inc. President and The Probe Team host Che Che Lazaro before a national gathering of the Kabataan News Network (KNN) television youth reporters last May 9 to 12 in Pasig City.

“It changes the way people behave,” added Lazaro, recalling her own experiences as a reporter on how lawmakers reacted when a video camera is focusing and taking footages of them during sessions in Congress.

Also, she reminded the KNN reporters to be fair, stressing equal time and space for every story.

KNN, a project of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – Philippines and the PMFI, is the country’s only TV program produced, written and directed by young Filipinos aged 15 to 19 from various provinces nationwide.

The 30 minute program every Saturday over ABC 5 television station is an Anak TV Seal awardee and named one of the ten finalists in the 2005 Child Rights Award sponsored by the UNICEF and the Asia – Pacific Broadcasting Union held in Hongkong.

KNN reporters were trained by the PMFI on basic television production aspects like video camera operation, shooting, interviewing, reporting, shotlisting, transcription, scriptwriting and voicing to equip young broadcasters with technical knowledge on video segment production. PMFI staff also conduct follow up on-site trainings in various bureaus nationwide.

Each bureau is provided with digital camera, digital video walkman and player, tripod, microphones, video tapes and other accessories needed in segment production activities. (PIA)