By: Nedshla Acebes
On June 10, The Crusader Publication launched SIBYA 2023: The 11th Northern Mindanao Student Communicators Congress at SM CDO Downtown Premiere Mega Screen Cinema.
With the theme “Truth Withstanding: Media Integrity in the New Age,” SIBYA 11 focused on the issues brought by the information age: the misuse of online interfaces, disinformation, lack of information security, and the challenge of authenticity against the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The congress then aimed to discuss strategies for strengthening media integrity and improving journalistic commitment.
This year’s speakers are experts in delivering socio-political news through various art forms: INQUIRER.net Samuel Yap, Visual Satirist “LCartoonist ZACH, and Vox Art Director and Motion Designer Joey Sendaydiego.
Yap opened the discussion with his topic on ‘News and Design in the Age of AI’ where he discussed the various use of AI in journalism. He mentioned that technology replacing journalists was very unlikely. “New technology has always been scary, especially when we don’t understand it fully,” he shared.
Afterwards, Cartoonist ZACH discussed the role of editorial cartooning and satire in journalism. He emphasized the importance of punching up when it comes to satire cartooning and how it was a way of calling out those in power through visual provocation. Additionally, he shed light on how journalists fear the political landscape that hindered great cartoonists from emerging.
“No matter how (we) stumble, we’ll always come back. We don’t die, we multiply.” Cartoonist ZACH concludes his speech.
The final speaker, Joey Sendaydiego, started his discussion with his personal experience as a XU alumni and graphic artist from The Crusader Publication. He looked back on his experience and how it shaped him in wanting to deliver factual news through creative means such as documentaries and film narratives. He then
pointed out that journalism looks different and will continue to do so in the following years. “There is no limit to creativity as there is no limit to journalism,” he addressed to the audience.
The delegates were then given the opportunity to ask questions through an open forum segment. Following the open forum, winners of the essay and photography contests, at both high school and college levels were awarded medals of recognition and prizes.
For the essay contest—Joel S. Budlao Jr. from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) The Trailblazer Publication, won first place. Which was then followed by Prince Kessis Ceniza from XU Psychology Society, and Abdul Hafiz Malawani from Mindanao State University-Marawi.
For the high school level, Jovy Angelie Luna from Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) MisOr Torch grabbed first place, followed by Johnny Caja and Gian Francisco Canedo from XU Senior High School, respectively.
For the photography contest, Francis Ignatius Rebosura of Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU) Student Press won first place while Mikylla Virtudazo of USTP placed second.
Lastly, for the high school level, Zynah Margaret Marcellana won first place, followed by Angelica Nash Murillo and Desirie Pangca in second and third place, respectively. All of which hailed from MOGCHS.
Around 350 onsite and online participants from the different parts of Northern Mindanao attended the event.
