THE Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), led by President Froilan Gallardo, will spearhead the 43rd Press Freedom Week celebration from May 26 to 31, with a series of activities aimed at fostering camaraderie, upskilling journalists, and affirming the enduring importance of press freedom.
Held annually, the event brings together both members and non-members of COPC, along with other media organizations in the city.
This year’s theme, “Sa 43 ka katuigan sa pakigbisog, sa kagawasan sa Prensa mobarog,” underscores the media’s continued fight for truth and the right to inform the public.
The weeklong celebration kicks off on Monday, May 26, with a Holy Mass at the Press Freedom Monument at 6:30 am, followed by a motorcade through downtown Cagayan de Oro.
A sportsfest featuring basketball, bowling, and chess will run alongside training seminars and lectures focused on digital journalism, online safety, artificial intelligence (AI), and fighting disinformation.
Seminar highlights:
May 27 (Tuesday): Multimedia Reporting for Social Media Platforms
Moderator: Froilan Gallardo
A session on crafting accurate video and photo captions and staying safe from troll attacks online.
May 28 (Wednesday): AI for Productivity in Journalism and Ethics
Moderator: Jaemark Tordecilla
Guest Speaker: Roby Alampay, FVP at PLDT & Smart
Journalists will explore AI tools for research, writing, editing, and fact-checking.
May 29 (Thursday): Fighting Disinformation and Fake News
Moderator: Cong B. Corrales, COPC VP for print
A skills refresher in identifying and countering false information.
May 30 (Friday): Video/Photojournalism 101
Moderator: LJ Dawn, Crusader associate editor
A practical course in short-form video production and photojournalism.
The celebration emphasizes the vital role of journalists in a democracy and serves as a reminder that press freedom must be actively defended and nurtured, especially in the age of misinformation and digital threats.
