‘Where are the citizen journalists of Mindanao?’
Journalist Dana Batnag put out this question in a dated August 11.
She writes:
This question is indeed very relevant if we compare this to what is happening in the United States. In a recent CNET , bloggers were among those actively participating in the delivery of news and information to constituents. The article says:
With blogs allowing anyone who can write to publish their thoughts on the Internet, Batnag was expecting bloggers to be blogging about the first automated elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. She says:
She adds:
A quick search on Google produced this blog called, “Philippine Elections Journal,” which as early as April 4 that it was looking for ARMM Election bloggers. It didn’t get any reaction despite the promise of “0 payment for every 20 approved articles.” This blog was set up by Filipino blogger Janette Toral.
There were also some but none about the actual election day.
Batnag says: “Citizen journalists not only know the terrain, they usually know everyone because it’s their neighborhood they’re blogging about. In the ARMM elections, a citizen journalist would have the luxury of hanging around and waiting until all the votes had been canvassed.”
“Until the citizen journalists of Mindanao blog about the elections so that their voices — and thoughts — can be heard and discussed, these are just the rantings of someone who believes in the power of the citizen,” she adds.
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