Journalism and documentary: Lessons from veterans

Journalism and communication students from different schools in Cebu had the opportunity to listen to veteran journalists from GMA-7 as they took part in the 32nd Cebu Press Freedom Week Celebration this 2024.

This year, GMA Network, through GMA Regional TV and Synergy, brought to Cebu two of the country’s highly esteemed journalists, Malou Mangahas and Raffy Tima, for the GMA Masterclass: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special.

For 2024, the Masterclass tackled the topic, documentaries in a rapidly changing news media landscape.

Several of the attendees reflected on the session, and shared their takeaways and lessons from the event:

“Journalists hold great responsibility in delivering relevant and meaningful stories to society, especially in safekeeping the truth. I think in this day and age, factual storytelling is extremely vital for our society to move forward. It is high time for us, communicators and future journalists, to leverage technology as we continue to contribute something meaningful, relevant, and impactful, while remaining grounded on journalistic principles. We are in an era where truth becomes easily marred and twisted. I think this is also a call, not only to journalists, but to everyone, that we are purveyors of truth, in a rapidly changing media landscape. We must be critical with the information we consume and foster integrity in everything we do. Everyone has the power in keeping our digital spaces safe, where the truth can thrive.”

- Quent Doble, University of San Jose-Recoletos

"Many people now seem to place more trust in the supposedly "unbiased" opinions of vloggers. This is why the insights shared by Mr. Raffy Tima and Ms. Malou Mangahas during the forum were particularly valuable. One unforgettable point made by Mr. Raffy Tima, which truly resonated with me, was the idea that we, as consumers, hold power in holding today's "influencers" accountable. He emphasized that by refusing to support or spread misleading content, we can strip malicious influencers of their platform. If we collectively disengage from harmful content, it loses its reach. With over a hundred engaged participants in the forum, I left feeling hopeful for a brighter future—not just for this generation, but for the ones to come."

- Shanntyl Abellana, Cebu Normal University

"In today’s digital age, truth has become complicated by influencers, social media, and misinformation. As Raffy Tima stressed, 'There’s no such thing as fake truth.' His message challenges us all to protect the integrity of information. In the fight against disinformation, truth remains unchanged, and it’s our duty to stay vigilant and discerning online."

- Raiza Mae Andata, Cebu Technological University

“GMA's masterclass about documentaries has inspired me to create a story looking at all the angles of an issue without biases (emphasizing investigative journalism). It has enlightened me about one of the true goals of documentary, which is to inspire action.

- Ronald Francis Maro, Cebu Technological University

“A key takeaway from the GMA Masterclass is that accountability in the digital age starts with us as consumers. Sir Raffy's powerful statement, "there's no such thing as fake truth," highlights the need for critical thinking in what we engage with online. Rather than solely relying on influencers to be responsible, we can curb the spread of misinformation by refusing to support or share misleading content. In doing so, we play an active role in diminishing the platforms of those who spread disinformation, reminding us that accountability begins with our own actions.

- Jane Niña Lee Coysona, Cebu Technological University