A parade of Cebu media practitioners from newspapers, radio, and television outlets kicks off at 7 a.m. today on historic Osmeña Boulevard.
A show of unity and camaraderie is expected in the annual Freedom Walk, whose route from City Hall to the Provincial Capitol will draw over 500 workers of editorial and business departments.
The celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week, the only one of its kind in the country, started 17 years ago and falls on the week of Sept. 21, the declaration of Martial Law.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will officiate the holy Mass at 9 a.m. at the Capitol Social Hall before the opening program.
Convenors of the tri-media’s biggest event of the year said the lineup of activities is a mix of fun and an affirmation of industry commitments to professional journalism.
This year, instead of a lead convenor from one newspaper for the events, a steering group with representatives of all five English and Cebuano dailies and the broadcast industry is mounting 2011 Cebu Press Freedom Week.
The rotation scheme will resume next year with the turn of Cebu Daily News as lead convenor.
Last night a new Miss Press Freedom was crowned at the Formo Restaurant and Lounge in Banilad Town Centre.
Over lunch today, new officers of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) will be elected.
Tomorrow, a pooled editorial written by Juan Mercado will appear in all five Cebu dailies.
Also on Monday, Cebu Daily News and Cebu Holdings Inc. will conduct a forum on new online trends in media with Javier Vicente “JV” Rufino, director of Inquirer Mobile, as main speaker at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center in Sudlon, Lahug.
The Press Center is the main venue of other forums this week organized by the KBP-Cebu, Sun.Star and The Freeman, tackling issues such as the Aquino administration, sports tourism, and the proposed anti-tabloid ordinance of Cebu province.
Fellowship parties are scheduled at the start and end of the week along with a 3k and 5k Freedom Run on Saturday, capped off by a fellowship dinner at Cafe Laguna. Reporter Marian Codilla