Old Electoral Problems Still Exist, Remain Unresolved – Journalists

Dino Balabo of Mabuhay and Philippine Star said the introduction of new technology both in the elections and in the coverage of the elections is also worth noting. It is just that, he said, people need to understand the technology more.

Darwin Wally Wee of BusinessWorld related the difficulties the teachers in Mindanao had in using the PCOS machines. Ed Lingao, on the other hand, pointed out that, taking aside the debates about the use of the hologram during the election coverage, it is more important to look at the content of the report rather than the technology being used to convey it. The use of technology, he said, should not overshadow the content of the report.

Awarding

The JVOJS ended with the distribution of certificates of appreciation to the panelists and the announcement of this year’s Marshall Mcluhan Fellowship awardee by the Canadian embassy. PCIJ’s Multimedia Director Ed Lingao was named this year’s Marshall Mcluhan Fellowship awardee. Lingao managed newsrooms and produced for The Manila Chronicle, Manila Times, ABS CBN News, The Correspondents public-affairs program, and ABC–5, He was also one of the few Filipino journalists who was able to report on the war directly from Iraq and Afghanistan.

James Trottier, Counselor for Politcal and Economic Relations of the Embassy of Canada, presents the 2010 Marshall Mcluhan Fellowship award to Ed Lingao of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)(Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)

James Trottier, Counselor for Politcal and Economic Relations of the Embassy of Canada, presented the Mcluhan Fellowship plaque to Lingao. Lingao is the 13th Marshall McLuhan Fellow in the country. As such, Lingao will be embarking on a ten-day familiarization and lecture tour of Canadian media and academic organizations, and a lecture tour of Philippine universities under the Embassy’s auspices.

“I am humbled but certain that there are lots of journalists all over the country who is deserving of this award. I would like to think that this award is only in recognition of what they do everyday, more than what I have done,” Lingao told Bulatlat after the awarding ceremony.

Lingao said that he might be scheduled to leave for Canada sometime in September or October this year. He shared that he is looking forward to the learning experience.

CMFR executive director Melinda Quintos de Jesus also announced that this year’s panelists would form the first group of Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar Fellows who would meet periodically to discuss political and development issues. (Bulatlat.com)