UP Journalism Club Holds Knowing The Choice: A Forum On Election

Last February 21, 2019, in celebration of UP Journalism Club’s 64th anniversary and as a way of giving back, the organization held Knowing The Choice, a forum on election coverage. This event was administered at the College of Mass Communication Auditorium. Media practitioners were invited to speak and share their experiences. They emphasized the importance of media as the amplifier in educating voters on who to vote for.

Jan Victor Matteo, a journalist of The Philippine Star, discussed the challenges of covering the elections on print. He shared that reporters have to know what story to look for as candidates have the tendency to say the same spiel and repeat their promises. He reiterated that they have to look out for something different.

“It’s not about ourselves, but more of how we can make sure they elect people who really want to help the country.“ - Janvic Matteo

Another speaker was Xianne Arcangel, a correspondent on CNN Philippines. She narrated the process of covering Grace Poe during the election season, as it was a thorough process of checking whether or not she was qualified due to her citizenship. Lastly, there was Sherrie Ann Torres, a Senate Beat reporter for ABS-CBN. She elaborated on how reporters acquire information during the campaign season. Examples would be dissecting truths by talking to real voters/people, visiting areas to profile voters. They engage with experts as well to give a more scrutinizing view of the candidates’ plans. The forum ended with closing remarks from the UP Journalism Club’s president; she challenged the audience  to more actively campaign for their chosen candidates and emphasized the importance of protecting the country’s democracy.