THE Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) Journalism Institute, chaired by Dr. Manuel ‘Manny’ V. Jaudian, hosted a one-day seminar-workshop on investigative journalism at Pearlmont Hotel last Saturday, April 26, in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation Philippines, led by Caroline Lee.
The workshop, titled “Basics of Investigative Journalism: Writing and Reporting an Investigative Story,” aimed to promote responsible journalism among local media professionals from various outlets across Misamis Oriental.
Allan Mario Mediante, editor-in-chief of Mindanao Daily News Network, opened the sessions by defining investigative journalism and emphasizing the need to understand both print and broadcast platforms.
Cong B. Corrales, editor-in-chief of Gold Star Daily, led a workshop on building strong evidence to uphold journalistic integrity. He also discussed techniques for combating disinformation through fact-checking and critical thinking.
To further encourage investigative reporting, the COPC Journalism Institute launched a contest exclusively for seminar participants, offering a cash prize of P10,000.
The competition will focus on Cagayan de Oro City’s landfill situation.
In the afternoon sessions, veteran journalist Herbie Gomez, Mindanao Bureau Head for Rappler, pointed out that clear thinking and careful planning are vital to producing strong investigative work.
Nef Luczon, Northern Mindanao Bureau Chief of the Philippine News Agency, concluded the seminar by discussing how journalists can access government data through the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, analyze public budgets, and use investigative reporting to promote accountability.
Interactive sessions throughout the day encouraged collaboration and critical thinking, reinforcing the importance of transparency and ethics in journalism.
