The Drum Beat 34: The Philippines - UNICEF, Communication and Child Rights

1. This issue focuses on the communication work of UNICEF Philippines. Three main strategic elements characterise this work: [a] The emphasis is on a voice for children - supporting them to give expression to their concerns and perspectives. [b] Communication activities are central to the core mandate of UNICEF - they are expected, as part of an integrated team effort, to have a direct impact on the priority child rights issues in The Philippines. [c] Partnerships are at the heart of the communication strategy - UNICEF works with broadcasters, local, provincial and national government, community groups, NGOs and the private sector to build sustainable capacity for effective, priority action on child rights issues.



Contact: Teresa H. Stuart, Communication Officer, UNICEF Manila tstuart@unicef.org



THE PHILIPPINES - MASS COMMUNICATION TRENDS



2. There has been a rapid growth of mass media over the last two decades due to the technology revolution, more liberal economic policies, return of the democratic space after the EDSA revolution, deregularisation of telecommunications and decentralisation resulting in the growth of provincial media, including commercial radio and television. Radio: 328 AM and 317 FM Stations; 25 million radios; reach 90% of country. Television: 128 stations; cable gives access to 100 plus channels; massive recent increase in reach due to expanded rural electrification, affordability and technology [eg satellites]. Print: 11 broadsheets and 23 tabloids in Manila alone; regional papers also. The proportions of households aged 10 years and over exposed to different forms of mass media are: radio ­ 81%; television ­ 56%; books ­ 36%; newspapers ­ 30%; comics ­ 22%; video tapes ­ 14%; and movies 7%.



[from "Communication Sector Analysis for Child Rights Based Programming - Asian Institute for Journalism and Communication ­ 1998. Contact: Ramon Tuazon aijcmla@mnl.sequel.net ]



ENTERTAINMENT



3. Partnership with Creative Directors of Advertising Agencies - through The Creative Guild of The Philippines - supported the Campaign Against Child Sexual Abuse through donation of time to create effective and attractive campaign materials and the donation of advertising time Contact: Divina Caalim, Executive Director, Council for the Welfare of Children cwc@info.com.ph



4. Children First - Cassette tape and CD of songs, by popular Philippines musicians and singers, that reflect Child Rights issues and actions. Examples of the songs include: "Children First", "Ngayong Gabi" ("This Evening", about child neglect and abuse), and "Laughter All the Time" (about peace; a contribution of Gary Valenciano, the first UNICEF National Ambassador in the Philippines). The CD and tape will be launched early 2000. Contact: Lelet Cruz Mobilisation Officer acruz@unicef.org.



NEWS AND INFORMATION



5. Talakayang Musmos - for kids and by kids Sunday radio programme on Radio Manila. Children produce and broadcast their own programmes. They are selected from the cross section of socio-economic groups. Editorial and presentational choices are decisions made by the children themselves. They also act as presenters, reporters and segment hosts. Segments include: "Balitang Paslit - news kids should know; "Sa Aming Palagay" - news anchors exchange their views on news of the day; and, "Galing Tsikiting" - which showcases the literary talents of young people. Contact: Alexis Rodrigo arodrigo@unicef.org



6. Child News Monitor - a monthly summary of news reports about children and women. Reports are compiled from over 10 local dailies and tabloids. A sample of the clippings is selected for content analysis - subjects tackled, framing of those issues, source, placement in the newspaper, and the points of view that are quoted or referenced. Sample: "total of 222 child and women related news articles; women's rights dislodges child abuse as most popular topic; majority of articles framed negatively". Analysis fed back to both media and development organisations. Contact: Alexis Rodrigo arodrigo@unicef.org



7. "The Child with a Fish for a Twin - or how not to write about children" - a book by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism that provides case studies and insights into effective and principled ways to investigate and report on major stories about children. Includes, for example, a section on 'Interviewing Children' and another on 'Digging for Data'. Contact: Sheila Coronel, Executive Director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism pcij@cnl.net.



8. 2 Day conference [September 1999] with tabloid journalists and editors was a first-time orientation on children's rights for the participants. One of the results of the conference was the publication of a daily child rights column in a popular tabloid. Participants and resource persons also explored ways of maintaining the tabloid personality without sacrificing children's dignity and accuracy of reports. Contact: Ms. Grace Agoncillo, Chief, Human Resource Development, Philippine Information Agency pia-hrdd@mailstation.net



9. Workshop with Government of The Philippines' Communication Officers to brief them on Child Rights and UNICEF's Plan of Action. Focused on developing creative ways to use low cost materials [eg a fishing pole] for simple and meaningful communication of child rights concepts - sought to take child rights out of being just a legal document and into something that had every day meaning. Contact: Ms. Grace Agoncillo pia-hrdd@mailstation.net



COMMUNITY



10. Community Public Address System [ComPAS] - technically is two microphones jacked into a Karaoke playback system, connected to a 180 watt amplifier and cone speakers distributed through the community on small towers. The heart of the process is support for rural communities to use this narrowcasting technology for community communication in some priority villages under the Fifth Country Programme for Children. The local communication system aims to raise and discuss local issues and mobilize community members on child rights, health and nutrition, child protection, education, livelihood, agriculture, environment, religion, politics, and social events that matter to them. Community leaders representing all sectors are trained in community broadcasting, ie, principles of news gathering, interviewing, radio announcing, scriptwritng, production of radio plugs, jingles, drama, school on the air. Contact Teresa Stuart tstuart@unicef.org



AWARDS



11. Childrens Television Awards - in Partnership with KBP [Association of Broadcasters in the Philippines], Awards are given to quality child-friendly television programmes. UNICEF involvement gives them access to producers, editors, directors, writers and talent for dialogue and discussion on child rights rises and their coverage in mainstream television. The 1999 Award went to ABS-CBN's "Wansapanataym" (Once Upon A Time"), for its episode on the plight of streetchildren. The programme is a fantasy programme that tackles various issues. Contact: Maloli Manalastas, Vice-President, KBP c/- tstuart@unicef.org



POLICY



12. Children and the New Media - in Partnership with The Philippines Internet Providers Organisation and The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication - initiated a dialogue on access to new technology, role of parents, preventing access to unsuitable sites and promotion of Philippine material for the Internet. UNICEF also worked in support of a Senator who sponsored a Bill related to these issues. Contact Ramon Tuazon aijcmla@mnl.sequel.net



13. Guidelines for Media Practitioners on the Reporting and Coverage of Cases Involving Children - supported the Special Committee for the Protection of Children and Journalists organisations to develop this set of guidelines. They have been presented to the public and will be incorporated into KBP's Code of Ethics for Radio and Television. Example "on media coverage of specific cases the present as well as the long-term implications for the child's recovery and rehabilitation shall be taken into consideration" Contact Teresa Stuart tstuart@unicef.org



14. Monitoring ­ UNICEF worked in support of KBP to establish a citizens group that monitors television and radio programming to ensure that it complies with the Radio and Television Code as it relates to children. This initiative responded to complaints from listeners and viewers about what they regarded as offensive material. First group was established in Manila in September, 1999. Contact: Rey Hulog, Executive Director - c/- tstuart@unicef.org



MATERIALS



15. How Social Mobilisation Works ­ The Philippine Experience ­- by O. Valdecanas, R. Tuazon and D. Barcelona - covers: Strategies for Empowerment including case studies of The Community Based Child Monitoring System, Ifugao women, Negros Occidental and Ilonggo children; Understanding Social Mobilisation; and, the Roots and Context of social mobilisation in The Philippines. Contact: Ruth Leano rleano@unicef.org



16. Developing Child-Friendly Media ­- a paper by Mike Jempson of PressWise. Addresses issues including: Working with Children; Creating Space in the Media for Children; and, Children's TV programming formats. Contact: Alexis Rodrigo arodrigo@unicef.org

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With special thanks to Terrel Hill thill@unicef.org [UNICEF Representative in The Philippines] and Teresa Stuart, Ruth Leano and Alexis Rodrigo of the Communication Section in UNICEF Manila. This issue edited by Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com