“When we went into this platform, there are a lot of things that we saw as common knowledge among journalists that we also needed to explain to the ordinary people.”

So explained political journalist Christian Esguerra at the third national conference on investigative journalism (IJCon) of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City on May 1.

Launching his “Facts First” podcast in 2020, Esguerra aimed to provide pertinent facts and elucidate pressing political and governance issues, recognizing the peril disinformation poses to democracy.

Today, his YouTube channel boasts diverse segments, ranging from daily live episodes to specials, explainers, conversations, and commentaries.

He did explainers on the significance of the rusty Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre grounded on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, and the breakup of the “UniTeam’’ of President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, among others, using catchy videos.

“So our basic lessons in journalism to strive to come up with something familiar to make an instant connection with our audience we’re still able to apply to social media and digital platfiorms,” Esguerra said during the breakout session, “Navigating Digital Frontiers: Innovations in Public Engagement and Journalism.’’

“So we try to peg it on something which maybe familiar to people so that they would be interested,’’ he added.

With his extensive experience in journalism, Esguerra underscored the principles of integrity, independence, and excellence that underpin the profession.

“When people ask me about how I see journalism, medyo purist ako sa journalism. When it comes to the style, ang naiisip ko something that could characterize what I do – parang ‘pillbox’, kahit sino pwedeng tamaan,’’ he said.  

Now, the pressing task is to gauge whether there exists a robust appetite for independent journalism to flourish on social media platforms.

Recognizing narratives

“Hindi nahahawakan ang mga kwento. Pero hawak tayo ng mga kwento sa leeg,” shared Leni Velasco, Executive Director of DAKILA.

In navigating the landscape of public engagement, Velasco delved into the complexities of connecting with citizens and highlighted how dialogues restore humanity and foster inclusive care systems, transcending both physical and digital realms.

“In today’s global context, we are undeniably entangled in a historic clash of narratives that permeate our cultures. These narratives wield significant influence in shaping how we confront our public engagement challenges,” Velasco emphasized.

To grasp this phenomenon, she called for introspection: “How do we weave narratives? What drives our storytelling? And why do we adhere to certain storytelling conventions?”

To combat the echo chamber effect, Velasco advocated for expanding conversational spaces without rupturing existing bubbles but rather by actively forging new avenues for dialogue.

She added that these narratives are the very ideas and beliefs residing in the most deep-seated spaces of people’s minds and translated into their actions and behaviors.

Ultimately, acknowledging these narratives opens pathways for altering them, potentially catalyzing shifts in societal behaviors.

Vertical journalistic output

ABS-CBN journalist Anjo Bagaoisan has been exploring alternative avenues to disseminate information, beyond the network’s primary digital initiatives. One such endeavor involves harnessing the power of TikTok to produce vertical journalistic content.

Through TikTok, Bagaoisan endeavors to engage with a new audience and offer them a unique perspective behind the scenes of news reporting.

Reflecting on their experience with this format for “Patrol ng Pilipino,” Bagaoisan admits that there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for creating such content. What resonates with one audience may not necessarily captivate another. — Hanah Coleen Reformado