More Media Groups Denounce Military Profiling Of Journalists In Mindanao

For quite a time the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) Western Mindanao Chapter became silent about some issues regarding media harassment here in our region, but this time, the considered harassment and invasion to privacy of the profiling being imposed by Western Mindanao Command strongly gains dismay to this organization and its members covering the military beat and conflict areas.

We support the issued statement of WESMINCOM (Western Mindanao Command) Spokesman Army Major Eugene Batara that the purpose of such move was to serve as basis/ reference in identifying the journalists covering the military beat and issue them an identification card from the command, but the manner it was done was foul and considered personal harassment to us, the media, who has been covering the military beat before these officials were assigned in WESMINCOM and since the command was established from its birth-towards its various names till it became WESMINCOM at present which is just few years old.

All those years, we uphold the respect and integrity of the command whom we consider as partners for peace and development in Mindanao by following the orders and coordinating with the command and field commanders everytime we conduct coverages of conflict areas. We didn't have a problem then with previous commanders of SOUTHCOM, except for a few who tried to imposed similar profiling before to the members of the Defense Press Corps.

I do not know if these present officials in WESMINCOM has conducted a background investigation of such previous instances of failed profiling which was tried to be imposed by those irrational commanders before, because of their failures in performing their given responsibilities, it even came to a point of banning the media from entering the military camp which is a clear manifestation of suppressing the freedom of the press,as we recall...

We fairly know that the FREEDOM of the PRESS is not absolute, but it is not right to be supressed by those people in government, particularly the military who are "VANGUARDS" of peace and democracy, ISN'T IT?

And we cannot understand why the command issued such orders without even having a dialogue,consulting or relaying the message to the officers of the Defense Press Corps headed by its president Roel Pareno of Philippine Star? He is just a phone call away and day to day covering WESMINCOM, gentlemen. WE are civilians and not AFP organic personnel who must obey orders before complaining, but needs a civil approach as we are human in nature.

We the members of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) Western Mindanao Chapter strongly sympathize and stand firm alongside with our fellow mediamen covering the WESMINCOM beat, that the move of the command is uncalled for and must be properly evaluated by its concerned officialsbefore it will be imposed, a dialogue with the media is hepful to resolve this matter once and for all, BOTH SIDES MUST BE HEARD to give JUSTICE for this cause, as we envoke our rights to privacy,information, and press freedom.

for the PECOJON-WM Chapter


SGD:MARLON "Bhong" SIMBAJON
Regional Coordinator

PECOJON Magdaraos Ng Seminar Sa Mindanao

NEGROS (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Jul) – Isang peace journalism seminar na naman ang ilulunsad ng tanyag na German video-journalist na si Antonia Koop para sa mga Pilipinong mamamahayag sa Mindanao.

Mula sa Bacolod ay magtutungo si Koop, isa sa mga founder ng international organization na PECOJON o Peace and Conflict Journalism Network, sa Davao City upang mabigyan ng seminar ang inaasahang tatlong dosenang mga Pinoy journalists.

Layunin umano ng PECOJON na makatulong sa mga mamamahayag sa buong mundo sa responsableng paguulat ng mga ito at mga hakbang na dapat gawin sa oras ng peligro dahil sa kanilang trabaho.

Ilang ulit na rin nagsagawa ng seminar at training si Koop sa ibat-ibang lugar sa bansa – mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao – ay narating na ng grupo nito.

Nuong nakaraang buwan ay sa Cebu isinagawa ang tatlong araw na seminar na dinaluhan ng ilang dosenang reporters mula sa Mindanao, Visayas at Luzon. Libre ang seminar dahil suportado rin ito ng InWent, isang malaking organisasyon sa Germany.

Sa kabila ng travel advisory ng mga ibat-ibang embahada sa bansa ay mistulang walang takot naman si Koop sa kanyang adbokasiya. Matagal na nag-cover si Koop sa magulong bansa ng Israel at Palestinian. (Mindanao Examiner)

German Journalist, Nagsagawa Ng Peace Seminar Sa Bansa

BACOLOD (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Jun) – Muling naglunsad na naman ng peace journalism seminar sa mga Pinoy reporters ang tanyag na German video-journalist na si Antonia Koop.

Si Koop ang pinuno at isa sa mga founder ng international organization na PECOJON o Peace and Conflict Journalism Network na ang layunin ay makatulong sa mga mamamahayag sa buong mundo sa responsableng paguulat.

Sa Cebu isinagawa ang tatlong araw na seminar na dinaluhan ng ilang dosenang reporters mula sa Mindanao, Visayas at Luzon. Libre ang seminar dahil suportado rin ito ng InWent, isang malaking organisasyon sa Germany.

Huling nagsagawa ng seminar sa Zamboanga City si Koop nitong taon lamang sa kabila ng travel advisory ng mga ibat-ibang embahada sa bansa.Matagal na nag-cover si Koop sa magulong bansa ng Israel at Palestinian. (Mindanao Examiner)

PECOJON 2007 Blue Ink Awards Now Open

BACOLOD CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 10 Jun) - The Peace and Conflict Journalism (PECOJON) 2007 Blue Ink Awards is now open for competition.

The Blue Ink Award grants the winners a full scholarship covering full academic tuition and fees for the M.A. Conflict and Reconciliation (MA CRS) major in Conflict Journalism degree at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City in Negros province in the central Philippines.

The award is non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash.

PECOJON is the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network, established in 2004 by Filipino journalists trained in conflict-sensitive reporting.

PECOJON has now around 200 members in the Philippines and around 50 foreign members all over the globe. The Blue Ink Award aims to identify and train potentially excellent writers in conflict-sensitive journalism.

Interested applicants must write and submit an investigative feature story on any conflict-based issue related to the Philippine elections of 2007.

The story must be written from an objective and analytical perspective and provides a better understanding of the chosen issue, especially in terms of addressing human needs.

It must be around 1000-1500 words, on letter-sized paper with 1-inch margins all around, double-spaced and using Times New Roman 12 font.

The story must be accompanied by at least one related photo and at least one other related visual material, or two related photos.

The ten best submitted stories will be published in its international PECOJON Magazine.

Applicants, in submitting their stories, grant first publication rights to PECOJON in return for their printed bylines. These ten stories will be the basis for selecting the winner/s of the Blue Ink Award.

Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae along with their feature story and two accompanying visual materials via email to pecojon@pecojon.org and a copy to pecojon@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is at 12 noon of June 18, 2007.

PECOJON, Ateneo University Hold Peace Journalism Workshops In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Linda Bansil / 13 Dec) - The international group Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) will conduct two workshops on peace journalism for students at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) here.

The first workshop, on December 14 to 15, will be for college campus journalists in Zamboanga City and Basilan. The second seminar, on December 16 to 17, will be for Mass Communication students of ADZU at the Jose Maria Rosauro Formation Center.

The Department of Mass Communication and the Beacon Publications of ADZU organized the workshops.PECOJON has members in Asia, Europe and Africa that included noted filmmakers, and academicians, professionals and journalism students.

Antonia Koop, a German journalist and a filmmaker who founded PECOJON and serves as the network's international coordinator, will facilitate the workshop, together with Philippine coordinator Jean Lee Patindol.PECOJON held its first training in Zamboanga on January 2006.

Photo: Peace And Conflict Journalism Network With Support Of Germany's InWent Hold Capacity-Building Seminar In South RP

PEACE AND CONFLICT JOURNALISM NETWORK. Filipino media members pose Monday 20 Nov 2006 with veteran German journalist Antonia Koop, center first row, at the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro City in the southern Philippines. The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON), supported by InWent, of Germany, has been holding capacity-building seminars and trainings for responsible journalism in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner/Mark Navales)