Forum highlights digital journalism

In celebration of the 17th Press Freedom Week, Inquirer Publications hosted a forum last Sept. 19 at the Marcelo B. Fernan Press Center in sitio Sudlon, barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

The forum on “Where’s journalism in a digital world?” had Javier Vicenter “JV” Rufino, director of Inquirer Mobile, as the speaker.

Schools offering Mass Communication courses, Cebu Blogger’s Society and some media practitioners attended the forum.

Rufino stressed that Inquirer’s digital edition is better because it can be accessed on tablets, desktop PCs and smartphones.

The digital edition gives the readers the “best of both print and online,” Rufino said.

In the digital age, readers are given more opportunity to converse and speak up through the social media.

He added the use of Twitter is helpful in disseminating information as it gives “automatic feed.”

He also said followers of Inquirer’s Twitter account can easily comment on a tweet.

The social media has paved way for more citizen journalism.

But although crowd sourcing could help in acquiring news, it is still important for the editors to verify the news for credibility.

One of the issues discussed was whether newspapers would soon be obsolete because of the increase of online readership nowadays.

Publisher Eileen Mangubat of Cebu Daily News, Inquirer’s regional paper in Cebu, said newspaper is changing into different forms to make it available to more readers.

The forum ended with closing remarks by Imee Alcantara, CDN vice president for Operations. /UP Masscom student Rejzl ANNE Awit