US editor to discuss civic journalism at UP forum

A FORUM on journalism will be held at the University of the Philippines Cebu campus today from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Andrew Haeg, an editor of Public Insight Network at the American Public Media in Minneapolis, Minnesota will be the resource speaker.

He will discuss civic journalism as a new trend of journalism.

The speaker is an expert in participatory media, citizen journalism, business and economics journalism, journalism innovation, design thinking, human-centered design and social media.

The United States Embassy is sponsoring the forum to elevate the industry standard for journalistic audience engagement.

The network will give journalists an idea of how to quickly gather first-hand knowledge and expertise through targeted engagement with more than a hundred thousand sources.

“We want to avail this once in a life time offer so we will know more about civic journalism as a new trend of journalism that promotes total democracy,” said Belinda Espiritu, a UP Mass Communication professor.

She said civic journalism is an effort to reach to the public more aggressively in the reporting process, by listening to the problems in the community and its possible solutions and by using the information gathered to enrich news stories.

“This forum will be beneficial for the participants as they are encouraged to express themselves, and it will eventually eradicate apathy in the society,” said Maria Licah Ligutom, a Mass Communication student.

Different students and faculties from other schools were invited to participate in the event. /UP Cebu Masscom student Ma. Charissa Antig