Sawat dii

As you may recall, back in July this year, CCDKM held the ‘ASEAN Youth Media Producers Workshop’ at our headquarters, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Thailand. Two of our visitors were young news producers from the Philippines Kabataan News Network (KNN), Janus Le-an and Joseph Rick.

They’ve just sent the Center a summary of their time at the workshop, and it’s worth sharing their observations and comments.

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Janus wrote:

DAY 1
The first day was opened with a media exposure trip to one of Thailand’s top rated media networks, BBTV Channel 7. We had several TV appearances and had the chance to meet with several Thai celebrities. I realized that Thai media is almost same to that of the Philippines. They also have a permissive media given the fact that there are also a lot of advertisers for TV. This made me wonder if their children’s media is also treated in the same way children’s media in the Philippines is treated. There is minimal opportunity for children’s media to be aired because giant networks would prefer shows that could lure more advertisers. When I talked with a Thai media person and shared the problem, he said that we share the same problem and it’s common not only in Southeast Asia but also in some parts of the world. That is why there has to be a paradigm shift in the media system, to give more opportunities to children’s media to be aired. On the other hand, children’s media should also adjust at certain points to mainstream media so media barons would be encouraged to provide a good time slot for the said media.

In the afternoon, we had the chance to share our knowledge regarding youth and media when we delivered a keynote presentation about Kabataan News Network in the Philippines. We shared how it has been working and how it has helped the youth in many parts of the Philippines. We presented the status quo and how KNN gave humble solutions in the problems that exist confronting the youth. We were very surprised when there was a positive response among the audience. Several said they were hoping that they would be able to produce such professional youth media like KNN in their country. Several youth media groups in Thailand were also introduced. Like KNN, they also aim to give a venue for the youth to express how they feel and what they say about the world they live in. Dr. John from Australia also conveyed to us a very important thing when he presented the eight important things that people in youth media should remember. One thing that struck me was the fact that most of the youth of today are westernized and it is reflected in the young people’s choice of media. He encouraged us to stick to our respective cultures, value them and it should be manifested in the stories that we produced by adding “local color” to it.

Learning about other youth media in other parts of the world is really empowering given the fact that there are also people who have the same advocacies like KNN. After the first day, I learned that it is not a utopian dream to promote children’s media in Southeast Asia for the reason that a lot of empowered young people across the region are looking forward to the same vision. I learned that it is essential to build partnerships among stakeholders, government and the youth to reach that goal.

DAY 2
It was another exciting day because we expect Thai lecturers. Though there was a big challenge for us in terms of language, we learned a lot of things. Dr. Thomas taught us about the essence of communication and how it is important for survival. By discussing the elements of communication, he demonstrated how media messages are distorted in the process before they are received by consumers. He therefore encouraged us to be vigilant about media messages, which we both receive and send through youth media.
We also had the chance to be interviewed by several media networks. We were asked about our opinion on the current existing media problem in Thailand that continually affects the children because of violent media contents aired on primetime. We therefore presented what contents we want for ourselves as young people.

In general, the ASEAN Youth Media Producers workshop in Thailand was a wonderful learning experience. We hope we can share what we’ve learned with our fellow youth media practitioners in the Philippines and add to their existing knowledge the essential role of youth media in the promotion of children’s rights and the development of our country!

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Joseph also sent his comments on the workshop:

I want to share my experiences when I attended the Youth Media Producers workshop in Thailand.

As a youth, it is my aspiration to learn more in the different fields including media. That’s why I never regret joining Kabataan News Network. I discover a lot of things while enjoying. I realized that I could have never been this fulfilled, without Kabataan X-press.

I received the offer to attend this workshop one week prior to the event. I didn’t have a passport yet, or even the DSWD permit to travel (thank God I’m 18 now, goodbye DSWD!). but my desire to attend the event pushed me to work hard for the requirements, and all things worked together for good. I finished everything just on time.
It is my first time to travel abroad, and it is my pleasure that KX gave me the opportunity. I had last minute instructions from Ate Ros Padua on the financial and directional facet of our journey. It is not a joke that we don’t have any adult guardian throughout our stay in Thailand.

Then the moment comes, July 12 at around 10:30 AM, we left Manila.

On the same date, at around 3 PM, we arrived in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand. We rode a taxi to the venue. We’re right on time, because by the next morning, the 2 day workshop will start. We were warmly welcomed by the two secretaries of Dr. Kamolrat (the Head organizer), who talked to us through the telephone. They informed us that other countries won’t be able to come and only the Philippines and Thailand will participate in the event. We were directed to our room.

6 PM
We went to IMPACT convention center where we saw different local Thailand products, together with our guide. I was happy to know that despite of how we teach our young about our differences, I saw how we’re the same. We went home joyful and rested for the next day’s program.

Day 1
6AM
We woke up early to join the early morning live-to-air television program, “Ant’s Nose”, in BBTV7, the national broadcast channel of Thailand. We first joined the morning show. get to see the actual program airing. Next, we went to the set of the taped noontime show of BBTV. There, Janus was the star. He was asked to join the funny games and introduced us as if we are television icons in Philippine TV. We won their music album sang by one of the hosts. I saw how we are the same in terms of humor. Thais are also happy people. We went back to the hostel to eat our lunch.

1PM
Dr. Kamolrat opened the session formally. She delivered a report on youth media development in Thailand and other countries including the Philippines. After this, Kabataan News Network was given a 30 minute slot to detail what KNN is all about. Of course, acknowledging Probe Media a UNICEF initiative. We used a powerpoint presentation and we received praises and a round of applause after our words. Even, Dr. Langer, our next speaker from Victoria University, Australia tapped our shoulders for a job well done. He talked about the potential and widening participation of youth in the media industry.

3PM
After a 50 minute break, we’re back to showcase the TV productions of various youth media groups. While being the first on the program list, we were asked to be the last presenters, perhaps, to save the best for last. Other media groups that we get to know were Pineapple Eyes, TK Teens and Center of Thai Youth News. We presented “Salibatbat” and they stood in amazement on how we were able to produce such a story. They say that it really deserves to be in the NY Festival’s shortlist. We were so happy to receive positive feedback on our performance on behalf of the entire KNN team.

5PM
We had our informal sharing about the world of media and getting to know more about each other.

6PM
The program was closed. We had our dinner.

DAY 2
8AM
Another showcasing of media works from the young radio producers in Thailand. The presenters were Youth Radio from Buriram province, Youth Radio from Nan province and Thai Youth News Network from Loei province. Questions were asked after each presentation. There was this young 8 year old girl who reports good news over the radio every morning all over their province. The problem that they are facing now is the government’s lack of attention to this community media sector. We learned that they didn’t receive any financial support from the government.

10AM
The Thai youths also have their sentiments and their own stand on the diversity of media in their country. The foremost issue is the rampant and tolerated promotion of violence in their soap operas during primetime. These big networks don’t care about the formation of values and are only after the income. The same holds true in the Philippines where media is dominated by advertisers and the real essence of public service is gradually vanishing. News reporters from the Thai media came to our workshop to cover the reading of a signed petition against media-related violence. A journalist interviewed us on the similarities between Thai and Philippine media. The problem in Thailand is there are no official regulating bodies parallel to our MTRCB, VRB and OMB.

What was funny was that they were wondering why the Filipinos are so active and witty. Because of how we, especially Janus, danced yesterday in the noontime show, every group asked us to dance and lead in front of the audience. We taught them from the basic ethnic dances up to the novelty dances nowadays.

1PM
After the lunch break, we held a workshop forum entitled “Developing Youth Media in Thailand and the Region”. Janus’s point was that the development, excellence, and responsible youth media participation must begin in the Asian region. I affirmed also that in the media world dominated by adults, the youth will make a difference. We strongly stressed the point that adults should have no dominant place of influence in youth media production. This point responded to one of the aims of this seminar, to develop a range of approaches to the youth media and encourage young people to explore the possibilities of media production, including newer forms of communication technology.

3PM
The last but not the least important speaker was Dr. Thomas Knutson. He discussed the noise that creates hurdles in communication. His talk summarized some of the earlier points in the workshop, including our comments.

4PM
The last phase of the seminar was evaluations and appreciation for everyone’s presence. We also had planning and sharing on the future steps of youth media in the region. Everyone had the chance to speak and we were really touched every time they mentioned our names and our country. After the things were wrapped up, we mingled with our new friends. We also exchanged contacts.

Two days were inadequate to shout the whole story to the world. But during two days we were empowered and our passion for serving the youth, and the nation were revived. Participating in this international event, as I said to my bureau manager Ate Astrid Tobias, is just a “plus” in being a reporter chosen to serve the youth. There are a lot more things to say, there are more hungry youth to be informed, and there are more reasons why we have to persevere, and why we have to fight.

Diversity in the language spoken has never been a barrier in the language that the heart utters. I must say that we are very fortunate to attend this event.

We at the Center are planning to see Janus and Joseph again, and I hope you have found their words enlightening and inspiring.

Until next time

Laeow phop gaan mai

Kamolrat