Early this second semester of school year 2011-2012, UP Cebu's Center for Media Literacy (CML) collaborated with the third year Mass Communication students taking the major course, Development Communication 142 (Community Newspaper),  to partner with organizations for a short-term learning project. The goal of this project was to help produce the pilot issues or the improved publications of the partner organizations.

Throughout the partnership, the Mass Comm students took the role of teaching their partner organizations basic journalism skills. They also provided trainings on the guide features on how to become news readers and news writers. In conducting the said trainings, they utilized the UP Mass Comm classrooms and resources.

"The training was beneficial. It gave the Northern Gem staff additional knowledge," said Miss Angelique Villafuerte.  She is handling Northern Gem, the official student publication of Mabolo National High School.

"We really appreciated this program initiated by them. We were thankful for the efforts poured in this project," she added.

Hector Paolo Diango, third year Mass Comm student, was grateful to share his knowledge to the students. However, he said that it would seem more interesting if they could train them for a longer time. "We may have introduced them the basics, but we must be able to give them hands-on training for several sessions to really see their improvements," he stressed.

Aside from the Mabolo National High School (MNHS), the Mass Comm students also worked with Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School, UP Cebu Youth for Christ (YFC), UP Cebu Lifebox and Cr8tive Thespians Club Inc.

CML Proposal

The Mass Communication program's proposal for the Center for Media Literacy was developed from the advocacy of Dr. Belinda Espiritu, Mass Communication Program Coordinator, for media education. "The CML will help the students to be more aware, analytic, responsible and creative in the field of media," she shared.

The center aims to promote media literacy not just among UP Cebu Mass Communication students and faculty but also among UP Cebu students of other courses. The CML office will utilize the old photography darkroom located on the second floor of the undergraduate building. It will be renovated and will serve as the resource bank of all kinds of research materials produced by the students and faculty of the Mass Communication program. Moreover, it will be provided with equipment and reference and office materials, which can be used in classrooms. 

According to Dr. Espiritu, the center will function as a multi-purpose room for class and small group trainings and discussions. It will also be the venue for seminars on  media literacy to secondary and tertiary students and teachers. Along the same line in strengthening media literacy, Dr. Espiritu also proposed a General Education course on media literacy. "Primarily, the general education Humanities faculty with background in media education will handle this subject," said Espiritu.

CML's physical set-up is projected to be in place by September 2012 during the Press Freedom Week. According to an article published in the Cebu Daily News, the funding of CML came from Rep. Rachel del Mar. The grant amounting to P 500,000 came from her priority development assistance fund.

(Contributed by Jamille-Lea-Ann C. Azanza and Lara MArga S. Lad, 3rd yr. Mass Communication students, UP Cebu)