PIA Press Release
Monday, January 16, 2012 Media urged to improve disaster reporting, adopt technology changesby Carina L. Cayon DAVAO CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) –- Veteran community journalist Antonio M. Ajero urged members of the mainstream media to improve reportage on disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and adopt technology changes. Amid the recurrence of disasters brought about by climate change, Ajero emphasized the need of the media to hone their skills in reporting catastrophes, disaster-preparedness, risk reduction and related topics. With improved skills, he said that media “could better inform their audiences and help reduce if not prevent damage to life and property.” “It is the duty of media to help the authorities convince people to stay away from flood and landslide areas to save lives,” he said. Ajero also raised the necessity for the media to pay close attention to and adopt the latest trends in communication technology citing the social media. “Mainstream media should not ignore the phenomenal growth of blogging and social networking like Facebook and similar platforms that constitute the so-called new media,” he stated. Ajero said that environmental disasters and rapid transformations in communication technology are two big challenges that members of the traditional media like newspapers, radio and television are facing this year and beyond. Ajero has served as editor and publisher of some of the local dailies, has managed broadcast stations, and has written for international publications. He raised the challenges in his SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the local media during the annual media party that the Philippine Information Agency Region XI organized in December last year. The 18th media party held at the conference room of the National Economic Development Authority XI, was attended by more than a hundred local media members from the print, radio stations and TV networks in Davao Region. PIA-XI regional director Efren F. Elbanbuena was elated by the response and participation of the media practitioners. (RGA/CLC/PIA-11) | 
