“FACTS first, PH!”

This was the rallying cry of the participants that opened the Rappler, #FactsFirstPH CDO Roadshow on November 23 at the Xavier University (XU) Little Theater.

With the theme, “Building communities of action in the fight for facts,” the public forum and subsequent exclusive workshops are the third stop of its provincial roadshow series following their second stop in Naga City.

This event was participated in by campus journalists from XU, Liceo de Cagayan University, University of Science and Technology in Southern Philippines (USTP), St. Mary's School, Gusa Regional Science High School, as well as members of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club and other local media outlets.

The first speaker was Inday Espina-Verona, Rappler Head of Regions, with the topic "Why Community Journalism Matters and How to Make It Thrive."

"This is a reach out, this is a regular activity of Rappler, especially with its partner communities and this school who are concerned with the spread of disinformation and would want to work with us and other media groups, of course, in combating it and also in strengthening the skills as truth-tellers para kumalat yung katotohanan," Verona said.

The second speaker was Joseph Ben "JB" Deveza, former editor-in-chief of SunStar Cagayan de Oro & XU Development Communications course lecturer, with "Community Papers in the Digital Age: Thriving, Dying, or Dead?" as his topic.

SURVIVING. Former SunStar Cagayan de Oro Editor-in-Chief Joseph Ben ‘JB’ Deveza assures communication students that although community newspapers may be a dying industry, community journalism will still thrive. Photo by Cong B. Corrales

A panel discussion was also conducted after, with panelists composed of Deveza; Gemma Mendoza, Rappler lead researcher on Disinformation and Platforms; John David Moncada, USTP Department of Technology Communication Management faculty lecturer; and Andrew Illnois Catalbas, Youth councilor, Oro Youth Development Council.

Topics discussed included misinformation/disinformation, cyberbullying, and fact-checking about older people's gullibility in the social media age, among others.

This roadshow in Cagayan de Oro is in partnership with the XU Center for Legal Assistance, the XU Development Communication Department, and the USTP Department of Technology Communication Management.