IA

là'p + Overview Overall, the general trends in communication as they relate to the future of Filipino children are as The African proverb, 'It takes a village to raise follows: a child," suggests that a child's socialization is best nurtured in a community, where parents, Children today are participating more neighbors, other community members, and actively in generating information, community-based institutions like the school initiating interaction with peer groups and media reflect and reinforce the cultural through social networking, and using values and practices of that community. It is in the media more actively as sources of this environment that interaction, dialogue, and knowledge. opportunity for participation in the life of the community are nurtured. Children are spending more time with the media than they do with formal school- In this age of the Internet and social networking, related activities. it is the small media in the community that play a pivotal role in the development of the Filipino Children are more discriminating about child. For despite the many benefits that a the choices of programs and information globalized communication media system brings, that they want from the media. the community media hold the greater promise of fostering interpersonal connectivity to promote • The availability of more channels and cooperation, creativity and critical thinking and to program choices presents a challenge in develop one's own cultural and national identity. media education and regulation.

This is the challenge in today's Knowledge Society, • High costs of investments in media where the communication media virtually dominate infrastructure and content will be a every major activity of children and youth - from constraint in the development of socially- play to leisure, family relations to schooling, oriented programs which do not have socialization to education. Amidst the pervasive much commercial value, as owners or presence of big media, small community media investors are more interested in the provide the necessary counterpoint in helping return of their investment. shape the attitudes, beliefs, values and lifestyles of • Many of the values taught in schools are Filipino children. seldom supported by the values depicted in mainstream media. The communication media landscape for today's children and youth includes print, radio, television, The growth of citizen media" is a video games, computers and the on-line technology favorable trend as it encourages the of e-mail and various Internet applications such participation of children and the youth as social networking, blogs, chats, and user- in the production and dissemination of generated content. The shape of this landscape, information. They now are both producers media-related issues on child development, and consumers ('prosumers"). However, trends in communication media and the scenario this trend should be accompanied by for the Filipino child, and policy and program adherence to ethical standards. This recommendations are discussed in the sections has also implications in the relationship that follow. between professional journalists and citizen journalists.

Communication Media and 229 the Future of Filipino Children Children of the Media: television is the most pervasive media channel. The 2004 4As Media Factbook showed TV household A Situationer ownership as follows: Metro Manila (96%), Mega Manila (94%), Balance Luzon (77%), Visayas (86%), Findings of the 2006 McCann-Erickson and Mindanao (83%). Television also was perceived Intergenerational Youth Study found that top as the most credible source of knowledge and leisure activities for teens after school remain to be information and overtook radio as the media traditional media, that is. watching TV and listening channel providing the population with knowledge to the radio. However, there is an emerging and information (2004 FLEMMS). Catering to prominence of technology-related activities like Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are The Filipino use of celiphones and Internet, indicating a Channel of ABS-CBN and GMA Pinoy TV of GMA growing interest and participation in the so-called Network. technocentric life. Cable Television A. When Old is Still In: The Mass Media There are now 753 cable TV operators nationwide owned by more than 500 companies. Cable TV Newspapers is enjoyed by 36 percent of 2.2 million homes in Metro Manila. For the 13.1 million homes with TV Metro Manila has 30 dailies: 12 broadsheets, in Urban Philippines, only 26 percent have cable with nine in English and three in Chinese, and connection. Most programs on cable TV, however, 18 tabloids (2007). These dailies claim a total are from foreign satellite channels, since not circulation of over seven million (2005). About 150 enough local programs are produced. community papers outside Metro Manila regularly come out weekly or daily. Newspapers were cited as one of the top three sources of knowledge B. New Media, New Priorities and information in the 2003 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS). In Personal Computers and Internet Access terms of credibility, newspapers rank third, after television and radio, as a 'more often credible" The coming of the Cyber Age in the Philippines has mass medium (Philippine Center for Investigative also brought a "digital divide." Only 7 percent of Journalism, 2004). households owned personal computers, as of 2003 Radio (FLEMMS). The 4As Media Factbook (2004) cited that computer ownership among households in Metro Manila was 17 percent and only 7 percent in Radio is a pervasive mass medium, with 86 Urban Philippines. Personal computer penetration percent of Philippine households owning radio is estimated at 1.9 for every 100 persons. sets. Nationwide, radio reaches 98 percent of the population. Radio stations nationwide total 993 The Survey on Internet Access and Use by Filipino (National Telecommunications Commission, 2007). Children completed in October 2009 by the AIJC for As a source of knowledge and information, radio is UNICEF provides baseline data on the topic. The one of the top three sources (2003 FLEMMS). In survey had over 900 schoolchildren respondents nine regions, it ranked number one. As a credible from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. source, radio is considered "more often credible" According to the study, Internet usage is 74 percent by 35 percent, ranking higher than newspapers but for all four areas, higher in both the Visayas lower than television. area (90%) and Metro Manila (88 1%). The lowest Television incidence of usage is in Mindanao (47%). Majority of the non-users of Internet are female (55%), between nine to 12 years old (51 0/,,), are in grades With 350 stations nationwide (NTC. 2007),

230 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA four to six (52%), and studying in the public schools form of Internet application that helps connect (66%). This finding seems to indicate the existence individuals online (Wikipedia 2006). of a digital divide. Reasons for not using the Internet centered mainly on the absence of Internet Friendster (www.friendster.com ), the most popular connection at home/school (61%) and computer social network service (SINS) in the Philippines, is illiteracy (51%). estimated to be used by about 5 million Filipino, as of end 2005. There are over 58 million registered Our schoolchildren are quite late' users, as Friendster users worldwide. The biggest percentage majority first used the Internet between 8 - 11 of users in Asia is from the Philippines with 39 years old, with Metro Manila and Visayas children percent of the site traffic. Other social networks as early users (2-9 years old), compared to Luzon include Myspace, Livejournal, Multiply, and and Mindanao schoolchildren. Face book.

Internet cafes provide the venue for bridging the In the Social Media Study conducted by Universal digital divide, as 8 of 10 Internet users access the McCann in March 2008 entitled Power to the Internet in Internet cafes. Grade-schoolers access People Wave 3, the Philippines leads the way with the Internet more at home than in Internet cafes, 83 percent of the people surveyed being a member perhaps because the former may be perceived by of a social network, followed by 76 percent in both parents and guardians as safer and more secure. Hungary and Poland. In contrast, high school boys go to Internet cafés probably because there are less restrictions and A high incidence (88%) of membership in online they are able to socialize more with their peer social networks was reported by respondents of groups. the AIJC 2009 study. There is no difference among Mindanao (89%), Metro Manila (88%) and the The Synovate Media Atlas study conducted Visayas (88%). Luzon respondents indicated the nationwide from July 2008 to June 2009 reported lowest (76%) incidence of membership, probably that Internet access in the Philippines stands because being located in mountainous areas they at 40 percent, with the younger segment as the have limited access to the Internet. highest at 60 percent. In the Greater Manila area, 46 percent of respondents have access. Data was Blogging gathered from 8,028 respondents aged between 15 and 64 across all socioeconomic groups. Wikipedia defines blog as a 'website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly An earlier related study conducted October- displayed in reverse chronological order." Blogging November 2008 is the Yahoo-Nielsen Net Index enables individuals to "publish" their own profile, 2008. Covering 1,200 respondents with ages thoughts, and opinions, among others. ranging from 10 to over 50 years old, from 22 According to Liveiournal, the Philippines ranks major cities including Metro Manila, the study seventh among the top 15 countries where blog reported that children and young people are among hosting is popularly used. There are presently the heavy Internet users with 50 percent in this age 39,274 Filipino bloggers under this hosting site. bracket accessing the Internet. Another heavy user Among 29 countries surveyed, the Philippines is the 20 to 29 year-old bracket with 41 percent ranks second with 66 percent of Internet users going online. writing a blog, or 42 million bloggers, next to China with 70 percent (Universal Media Study: Universal Online Social Networks McCann Power to the People Wave 3 Report, 2008). Online social networks present a new and growing environment wherein people exchange social The 2009 AIJC study indicates that only a little information and manage impressions. It is a over one-fourth (27%) of respondents indicated

Communication Media and 1 231 the Future of Filipino children they are writing blogs. The highest incidence Private school students chat more than their was reported by Metro Manila (34%) and Luzon counterparts from public schools. Over one-third (32%). Mindanao respondents reported the lowest (37%) of online chatters chat two to three times a incidence at 8 percent. The low incidence of week. Fortunately, most do not chat with strangers, blogging is unfortunate as responsible' blogging perhaps aware of the dangers of doing so. The high can have positive impact on child development, incidence of online chatting among elementary such as enhanced writing skills, reasoning, self- and high school students can be attributed to expression and even critical thinking. As expected, the availability of online chatting in many web high school students blog more often than applications. Online chatting is now facilitated elementary students. by online games, chat rooms, instant messaging clients such as Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Online Gaming Skype, and Window Live Messenger.

According to the 2009 AIJC study, online gaming Use of Wikipedla is another favorite with almost 8 of 10 elementary and high school students playing online games. Wikipedia is popular among elementary and high This can be attributed to the visual and interactive school students, and its use is more pronounced characteristics of online games. There are more among the latter. A little over two-thirds (68%) grade school pupils than high school students who of respondents of the AIJC survey are using the play online. This is probably because high school Wiki. It is used primarily for education purposes respondents have other social activities besides whether for school work or for research not related playing online games. Surprisingly, there are more to schooling. The site complements textbooks girls than boys in elementary playing online games, and other print references. A possible reason for as the latter may have other social activities its popularity among students is ease in getting outside the house while girls may opt to play online information on almost any topic, which makes at home. But as schoolchildren grow older, there doing assignments (research) less tedious. The are more boys than girls playing online. Incidence online format makes it a better option than print - of online gaming is highest in Luzon and lowest in since online is visual and interactive. Mindanao. In Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao, more males play online games than females. Mobile or Cellular Phones

Joey Alaralla, founding president of the Asian According to the NTC (2006), there are 42,868,911 Gaming Journalists Association, has observed that cellular mobile telephone subscribers (CMTS). This teens and twenty-somethings tend to patronize number translates to a CMTS density of 49.29. online games more," as reported by Ronald James PLDT President Napoleon Nazareno has forecast Panis (2007).The same report noted that online a 70 percent mobile penetration by 2010. Major gaming makes up 80 percent of the total Internet cellular phone operators are SMART (17,201,005 use in the country. Online gaming subscribers in subscribers) and Globe (16,659,742 subscribers). the Philippines increased from 60,000 in 2003 Other operators are Piltel (6,974,379), Digitel to 350,000 in 2004. The International Data (2,000,000), Nextmobile (22,411), Extelcom Corporation predicted that by 2009, there would be (10,374), and CURE (1,000). 6.9 million Filipino gamers! Short M'iging Service Online Chatting Eighty-one percent (81%) of Filipinos aged 15 Schoolchildren (3 out of 5) also chat online with to 64 used short-message-service or SMS to friends and family/relatives, as shown in the 2009 communicate with one another, while the same AIJC study. The highest incidence of chatting online group agreed that SMS has become an important is highest in Metro Manila and lowest in Mindanao. form of communication to them, according to the

232 HNFORMAT ION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA latest data from Synovate's Media Atlas study. A focus well or sustain attention. She cited the 2004 survey of Pulse Asia in 2003 showed that about 70 study by Dr. Dmitri Christakis, a pediatrician at the percent of texters sent as many as 10 messages a Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. day, and another 13 percent sent more (11 to 20). He found that kids aged one to three who watched On the whole, about 250 million text messages are TV or videos regularly faced a 10 percent increased sent per day by Filipinos. Of this number, 70 million risk in attention deficit problems when they text messages consist of the one-letter word, K"! reached age seven.

Adolescents as well are not immune to attention Communication Media and Child problems. Another recent study by the Columbia Development University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York followed 700 children for a decade and found that 14-year-olds who watched TV for more Both real-life and media-related activities affect the development of children. Child development than three hours daily were twice as likely not to finish school, compared to those who watched specialist Feny de los Angeles-Bautista points out the essential elements in child development, which for less than an hour. Watching too much TV has are growth and development in motor language, made activities such as homework and reading thinking, and social skills. Development from more boring and more difficult for them. Chua-Lee early childhood through adolescence involves (2007) stressed that increased "tuning out" by the development of children's personalities, their media-blunted brains of children is one factor in sense of self and autonomy, their intelligence and the growing epidemic of attention problems. ability to think, reason out and solve problems, and their values (undated report). Meanwhile, the Youth Protection Roundtable Toolkit (YPRT) warns of Internet addiction especially

While much emphasis has been placed on the among children and young people who are at risks of not being able to switch off the computer. perils of exposure to both mass and new media, the generation of today is also on the winning Socio-Emotional Development end of the advances in technology worldwide. In cyberspace, children do as in the real world. Communication media have affected the social they use computers for most of the activities of and emotional development of children and the traditional childhood. That is, they play, socialize, youth. For example, how they relate to their parents communicate and learn in the course of their explorations (Bautista). and their peers are influenced largely by their exposure to these various media. Liwag (2007) Cognitive Development cited that equality in online communication among computer users of all ages tends to erode authority structures. This development could mean that Liwag (2007) claimed that exposure to imagery in children now may be less accepting of parental electronic technologies might have contributed to authority. the selective increases in non-verbal intelligence scores during the past century. She cited the study As to social connections, the Internet has by Flynn (1994) which compared the average become an instrument to keep up and maintain scores of British respondents of comparable relationships with close friends and close ages in the non-verbal test in 1942 versus 1992. family members. However, it also creates virtual The said test showed that there were significant relationships with strangers and acquaintances, increases for all age groups tested. thus forming "weak ties" that provide less social support than real relationships with family and On the downside, Dr. Queena Lee-Chua of Ateneo friends. de Manila University (2007) claimed that excessive TV watching is one reason why our youth cannot

- Coruruunication Media and 233 the Future of Filipino Children Charles J. Sykes in The End of Privacy (1999) warns Jacob's observations were validated by Dr. of profound consequences for families of way too Sioksoan Chan Cua. During the same forum, much information" and end of privacy. Say Sykes: Chan Cua expressed concern over the growing The young are no longer the uninitiated or prevalence of overweight and obesity as children the innocent. They no longer have to pass in developing countries have been adopting a through stages as they are socialized and Western lifestyle characterized by decreased introduced to the secrets of adulthood. physical activity and over-consumption of energy- All the veils are down. Any child who dense food. watches TV, author James Twitchell notes, sees things that only adults would have In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics known of in a pre-electronic world.' On the issued a statement advising parents to limit Internet, they can find out about things their children's time spent with media (no more that adults do that even many adults have than one to two hours a day) and to emphasize never imagined. alternative activities such as sports and games, as well as imaginative play. Physical Growth and Child Development The World Wide Web also contains accessible information that may be physically harmful to The 2006 McCann-Erickson Intergenerational children, e.g., websites promoting suicide, anorexia, Youth Study underscored that technology has etc. According to the Youth Protection Roundtable, made an impact on the youth lifestyle, as indicated with Web 2.0 and the increasing possibilities by a significant decline in 2005 in the young to publish user's own content, the risk of being people's involvement in physical activities like exposed to content inciting harm is growing. sports. Sedentary pursuits like watching television and playing computer games have become their Family Relations preferred. These activities expose them to a number of physical risks including vision problems, Contrary to the popular notion that media seizures, hand injuries, and other musculo-skeletal consumption has eroded family relations, the latest complaints. Such sedentary activities have likewise research conducted by OMD Philippines showed been cited as a factor in the increasing number of that media technologies in fact have helped many obese children and adolescents. Filipino households keep their families intact. A high 89 percent of respondents agreed that Liwag (2007) cited recent studies that showed technology enabled them to remain in contact with evidence that computers could have a negative other family members. impact on a child's vision. She said that about 25 to 30 percent of computer-using children The study further showed that, with the emergence need corrective eyewear to work comfortably and of a multi-tasking lifestyle, the Filipino family safely at the computer. She added that 'flicker used 10.9 hours per day in the consumption of frequencies" or quickly flashing images in some media and 14 hours in utilizing technology (OMD video games could also trigger seizures. Philippines, 2007). About 4.8 hours were spent in surfing the Internet and 2.7 hours in watching In a paper presented during the July 2007 television. Respondents also said that they spent Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN) more than 6 hours with their families and almost Conference, Ms. Anna Jacob noted that many 2 hours with their friends. The rest of the day was adolescents are engaged in health-compromising spent for routine activities like sleeping, school or behavior including poor food habits and a work. sedentary lifestyle. She said that long hours of study combined with sedentary hobbies such as Linking Disconnected Families playing computer games and watching television increase sedentary periods in the day. Some 10 percent of the country's population

234 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA abroad of 8 million are Overseas Filipino Workers tapes, have been replaced by the (OFWs), with an average deployment of one million telephone and SMS or texting. a year. The estimated total remittances from OFWs in 2008 is US$ 15.7 billion • Communication not only kept family members updated about what goes on in The 2003 Children and Families Study conducted their daily life but also enabled parents to by the CBCP Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral continue their parenting role. Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Scalabrini Migration Center and Overseas Workers Welfare Communication and Culture Administration (OWWA) reported the following findings: Communication media is part of the broader cultural industries. Several communication Parental absence created displacements, theorists affirm the impact of media in shaping disruptions and changes in caregiving culture. Media is recognized as the harbinger arrangements. The departure of one or of popular culture. One of the most common both parents left an emotional mark on criticisms against media is that it abets "cultural the young children left behind. homogenization." At the global setting, the western media is perceived as the cultural yardstick In terms of socioeconomic variables, the particularly for values and lifestyles. At the national children of migrants were markedly better level, urban centers define what is "in' or 'out." off compared to the children of non- With the advent of new media, especially cable and migrants. satellite television and the Internet coupled with economic globalization, the threat of a monoculture Among migrant families, family relations swallowing up the world's diverse cultures seems remained close not by presence but to have become more real and urgent. by constant communication. Access to instant communication helped bring But technology is a doubled-edged sword. Local family members together despite the communities now have at their disposal the same distance. technologies which will enable them to share to a worldwide audience their indigenous cultures. Access to communication technology According to Thomas Friedman (The World is Flat), played an important part in linking family "uploading has made possible the globalization of members separated by distance. the local," or what another communication scholar calls "glocalizaton."The Internet is a very powerful OFW families were twice more likely to tool for the preservation and enhancement of have a landline telephone connection cultural autonomy and particularity. The global than non-OFW families (63% vs 29%). media can also be a potent tool in promoting universally shared values which can bind people as • Some 94 percent of migrant families had global citizens. cell phones, compared to 60 percent among non-migrant families. The Right to Privacy

• More than a third (35%) of OFW children The advent of new ICTs has exacerbated the had their own cell phones compared to threat to the right to privacy, with the immense only 12 percent among non-OFWs. or almost unlimited capacity of new technologies such as computers to accumulate, store, process, • Traditional ways of communication retrieve and transmit personal and other data and between migrants and the left-behind information. families, such as letters and cassette

Communication Media and I 235 the Future of Fiflpno Children The emerging "Tell-All Society" is the result of a warned that children and youth are often not aware confluence of events. Modern technology has of the short-term and long-term consequences facilitated the development of expansive and of published texts and pictures which they do not intrusive databases that add seemingly harmless want to be publicly available later; but unfortunately information, such as a demographic profile, to an it is difficult if not impossible to delete this individual's credit worthiness, work experiences, information totally later on. Data portability refers and even political leanings. More and more to ease in transferring data deliberately stored on government agencies, business companies, and a server or platform to innumerable other servers; other institutions like hospitals are automating and in the process, people lose their privacy. their operations and in the process collecting unrestricted personal information. Likewise, Many children and young people are also the latest surveillance equipment and facilities unmindful of the dangers or negative are becoming more sophisticated, unobtrusive, consequences of readily disclosing or sharing powerful and intrusive. Examples are microphones private information with the desire to be part of a that can pick up conversations from more than a network or community. Related is the problem of mile away and global position satellites that can identity theft wherein some individuals intentionally track movements especially when one uses a cell use other people's electronic identity for personal phone. Sykes (1999) wrote about Kindercams (and even criminal) gain. which allow parents to watch their child in the day care center over the Net and personal ICT and Violence transponders implanted in animals (or individuals) now being marketed to enable parents to monitor Past studies have confirmed that continued the whereabouts of their children. exposure to violence on television desensitizes children to other people's suffering. Numerous This seemingly growing disregard for privacy, studies have also shown that watching violent however, can be self-inflicted. Note how thousands television programs and films increases children of individuals audition for the TV reality show and adults' aggression and hostility. As early as Pinoy Big Brother that airs 24/7 every activity 1970, a study of the US Surgeon General already of the housemates. Sykes (1999) explains this reported that "TV encourages aggressive behavior phenomenon, thus: among children."

Perhaps this is inevitable in a postmodern According to noted Filipino psychologist Dr. Lourdes celebrity culture that has traded Carandang (as cited in Braid and Tuazon, 1998), achievement for publicity; restraint for media exposure to violence, aggression and exposure; reticence for authenticity; meaningless sexual activities stimulates aggressive and decency for self-revelation. Daytime impulses and therefore primes the child to act television has become a national town aggressively. For older children, the impact is more hall of confession, peopled with a class subtle and insidious. Even for adults, constant of individuals willing to endure any exposure can lead them to think that what they see humiliation or pay any price to escape is the natural state of things. their privacy. Unable to achieve fame through accomplishments or actual The popularity of computer games can be a reason celebrity through other means, they offer for alarm, for it is plausible that playing violent their privacy as the kindling for their computer games would have similar effects. Many moment of pseudo-celebrity, especially computer games are equally violent and realistic. on television. Research has also shown that playing such games desensitizes children to human pain. Related to privacy are data persistence and data portability. The Youth Protection Roundtable (YPRT)

236 ORN ION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA Liwag (2007) cited a study which analyzed the number of child sex workers as between 40,000 to Nintendo and Sega Genesis computer games. The 100,000. results showed that nearly 80 percent of the games had aggression or violence as an objective. Liwag While technology on the whole has been beneficial, noted that while educational software for home it has also been used for less than noble purposes. computers included many games that encouraged Trinidad (2005) observed that advances in positive, pro-social behaviors by rewarding players technology have allowed for the easier production, who cooperated or shared, the most popular reproduction and dissemination of child entertainment software promoted competition and pornographic images and consequently have made aggression. It was also noted that the amount of child victimization easier. violence increased with each new generation of games (Subrahmanyam and Greenfield, 1998). Pornography has indeed become widespread through the World Wide Web. It is estimated Another study showed that playing a violent game, that some 40 percent of active websites host even for brief periods, had short-term transfer pornographic materials, with an estimated 260 effects, such as increased aggression in children's million pages of pornography online as of July free play, hostility to ambiguous questions, and 2003. In a research study by the Crimes Against aggressive thoughts (Subrahmanyam, 2004). Children Research Center in the United States, 25 In addition, children who preferred and played percent of respondents stated that they had been aggressive computer games demonstrated less exposed to unwanted pornographic materials while pro-social behavior, such as helping someone surfing the Internet (Trinidad, 2005). (Liwag. 2007). The 2006 Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years The top five favorite online games for Filipino Later report (as cited by Philippine Daily Inquirer schoolchildren according, to the 2009 AIJC study, contributor Cathy Babao-Guballa, 2007) mentioned are Audition, Cabal Online, Ran/Ran Online, DOTA that approximately one in seven youth, aged 10 to and Counter Strike. Audition is the top choice for 17 years old, received sexual solicitation over the Metro Manila where there are more girl children Internet. The report also found that 34 percent players. DOTA and Counter Strike, which feature received unwanted exposure to sexual material, violence, are in the top three in two survey areas. such as pictures of naked people or people having sex. Meanwhile, bullying which is a form of violence is becoming more prevalent. Mobile phones equipped The Internet has likewise become a venue for the with digital camera are used to take defamatory widespread distribution of all kinds of pornography. photos with the intention to share with as many Trinidad (2005) cited reports on pedophiles who individuals through MMS or to upload in the used the Internet to communicate with fellow Internet. pedophiles, to locate like-minded individuals, to find children to abuse, to transfer and create child ICT and Pornography pornography, and to profit financially from such ventures. PREDA Foundation Inc. has warned that pornographic exploitation of children is growing Indeed, the danger for children does not only lie in at an extremely alarming rate, given the backdrop their being recruited as models for lewd materials. of poverty, sex trade and sex tourism, trafficking, The Internet has spawned a generation of children advanced technology, and globalization. Recorded who are savvy in navigating their way through cases in the Philippines show that children aged different Internet sites with ease and confidence. 12 to 17 are common prey. However, some reports These children, who are the most vulnerable to indicated that victims were even younger than be exposed to pornographic sites, may become age five. PREDAs advocacy paper estimated the desensitized to such images and consequently

Communication Media and 237 the Future of Filipino Children become desensitized to sexual activity. Some researchers have suggested that childhood use of pornography may distort children's developing sexuality and encourage sexually abusive behavior in their adulthood.

The Internet has likewise been used as a digital • - highway for human trafficking. Information and transactions are sometimes processed through • • V-,---

the Internet, although empirical studies are yet to • ,''.- r*1wu,k-0,,,; establish this claim. • .J1dcCtrrr fl'

Social Technographics Profile

Early this year, Forrester Research introduced the concept of Social Technographics Profile (STP). Just as demographics describes the characteristics of phones have the following features: video (TV) and populations and psychographics the psychographic audio (radio) streaming, messages (SMS, MMS characteristics of individuals, technographics and e-mail), Internet access, camera for photo and focuses on technology behaviors and practices, video capture, and video gaming. particularly in relation to the various Internet applications such as blogging, social networking, Friedman (2006) describes the trend as uploading/ downloading video, contributing to follows: "Convergence technologies challenge wikis, and ratings and reviews (Li and Bernoff, the boundaries that separate the once neatly 2008). divided territories of print, broadcast and telecommunications. This does not mean that this The STP categorizes individuals according to will lead to a world without borders, but probably so-called groundswell activities (various Internet to one with different boundaries and more cross- applications) in which they participate. Through the boundary work." use of rungs on a ladder to visualize rankings, it places in the lowest rung the inactives, while in the 2. User-Generated Content highest rung are the creators. Media producers no longer have the power to Initial STP5 within countries and across continents dictate where, when, how and by whom their show that children and young people occupy the content is received. With the new technologies and higher rungs, compared to older people. available gizmos, today's media "consumers" or users, especially the young ones, now have other options aside from the big mass media providers. Megatrends in Communication They can now source and repackage or produce Media their own content and patronize content produced by their peers. 1. Media Convergence Based on the 2009 AIJC Study, the incidence of The delivery of content and services was previously uploading images and music is 71 percent and 69 provided by several media, but today it is done percent, respectively, compared with downloading by a single artifact, often networked computers at 77 percent and 70 percent, respectively. In and lately mobile phones. New generation mobile addition to being attractive to the tech no-literate,

2381 iNFoRMATioN AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA - - many uploading/download sites are very user- The free-wheeling nature of the new media is shown friendly even for young children. Friendster is the in the experience of four student b!oggers of Quezon most frequently used site for uploading music and City High School who were ordered suspended for images, while YouTube is the choice for videos. On 10 days in January 2009 for posting an article in the other hand, IMEEM and MP3 are the favorite their blog http://scientiaetvirtus.multiply.com that sites for downloading music; Friendster, Google and allegedly contained articles and photographs against Yahoo for images; Y8.com and Yahoo for games; the school principal's policies and person as well as and YouTube and Lime Wire for videos. the students' gripes over irregular lunch hours and required subjects. According to news reports, the 3. Consumers as Prosumers principal also ordered the closure of the school's two student publications, Electron and Banyuhay while The latest technologies have allowed individuals, the student newspapers' faculty adviser was also often young people, to produce their own TV shows sacked from his position. The regional director of the or movies (posted on Youlube or Dailymotion), Department of Education-National Capital Region their own music or radio program (podcasts), eventually ordered the lifting of the suspension and publications (blogs). Computers, videocams, order. digicams, mobiles, iPods, MP3s/4s, and such other gadgets allow consumers to produce their own In this relation, UNESCO in a 2008 document issued sights and sounds. Now self-reliant in meeting a reminder that with expanded freedom, there is the their information and entertainment needs, such possibility that children and youth may still have little media consumers who are also content producers understanding of their ethical responsibilities. This have been dubbed prosumers" is one of the reasons why UNESCO is pushing for media and information literacy for children. ICTs and the new media have empowered and enhanced the independence of today's children 5. Information Explosion and a Cluttered Media and youth. Adults can no longer, all the time, tell Environment their children how to work things out. In some cases, children are the ones telling adults (parents) Children and youth today are exposed to an how to do things especially on the use of Id. Now unlimited amount of information which can only be more than ever, children are given the power to attributed to what Emily Abrera of McCann Erickson make decisions (Who will you evict tonight on Pinoy has described as more media channels, more Big Brother or Pinoy Dream Academy? Who will media options, and more media choices." Because be the first Pinoy Idol?). At a young age, they are young consumers are now more occupied with so communicating and making decisions on their own. many things to do with so little time available, Abrera opined that it will be a constant struggle to get their The average age of first-time mobile users is attention. She described today's young consumers six years old! The earliest known blog in the as empowered, informed, multi-taskers, impatient, Philippines was made by 10-year old Lauren Dado hard to reach, attract and engage - or fool for that in 1996. matter."

4. Freedom of Expression The abundance of data and information makes it extremely challenging especially for young people Very much related to the ability to produce their to organize and process information. Children own content is the ability of children and young and young adults now need other competencies people to freely express themselves. For example, beyond the traditional 313s, i.e., reading, riting with blogs, children have a ready medium for and rithmetic, which no longer suffice. Media expressing their views on diverse issues and topics and information literacy are the most important with hardly any control by adults. competency in today's Knowledge Society.

Communication Media and I 1 239 the Future of Filipino Children 6. Personal Image, Mobile Sociality and Chance has performed with such luminaries as Solitary Mobility Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, and Boz Scags. (http://charicepempengco. Children and youth define their own image. On com/bio/) SNS, they create their own identities outside the confines of social status and physical appearances. Other Filipino artists now performing abroad and The study by Garcia (2006) found that only heavy discovered through YouTube are Arnel Pineda of the male users revealed more personal information band Journey and Erin and Roxanne. over Friendster. Unlike their female counterparts, the heavy male users tried to project a desirable 8. Cross-Cultural Boundaries image of themselves through interesting write- ups and photos. The study further found that all With the new media has emerged a borderless user groups browsed through the profiles when world which has resulted in increased or even seeking information about others online. More than unlimited opportunities for interaction within anything else, they looked at the testimonials. All communities and beyond cultural boundaries. user groups considered photos contained in the Children can now directly communicate with profiles and testimonials as important in forming other children across the world and know more impressions of others. about other cultures beyond what textbooks and movies can offer. Through peer-to-peer file Quoting from the blog of Alex de Carvalho, Abrera sharing applications, cross-cultural communication (2008) observed that individuals, especially becomes a daily reality. These young people do children and young people, have two choices, i.e., not only share or exchange music and images. Mobile Sociality or Solitary Mobility. One expresses They also exchange values, beliefs, attitudes, and his or her preference for solitary mobility by wearing behaviors. headphones or "shielding acoustically from one's environment, by building one's own private sound 9. Public-zenship (The Tell-All Society) bubble" to listen to music or a Podcast. On the other hand, one expresses preference for mobile People, including the younger generation, seem sociality if he or she is equipped to connect with to be less and less concerned with their privacy the world while on the move, through voice, SMS, and even tend to enjoy sharing themselves with MMS, e-mail, Internet access, etc. the outside world through reality broadcast shows, blogs, and social network sites (SNS) such as 7. Creative Expressions Friendster and Myspace and equipment such as camcorders and web cameras. "There is nothing New media do not only enable children and young that someone is not willing to reveal or share about people to express their views. They also provide his or herself" (Sykes, 1999). The 1998 movie The them an additional channel or venue for expressing Truman Show, which is about a television show that or displaying their creativity, innovativeness and chronicles and broadcasts every minute in the real even ingenuity. life of the main character, is now a 24/7 reality.

For example, at a young age of 17, Chance Today, there are hundreds of websites chronicling Pempengco has been dubbed as the world's top 24/7 the daily lives of individuals to escape, what Youlube sensation. Her singing performance Sykes (1999) quoting Frederick Exley describes uploaded in the FalseVoice channel of YouTube as. "the blank anonymity of life." One of the in 2007 attracted worldwide attention. She was most popular of these net-cams is the Jenny-cam invited to perform in major broadcast companies chronicle, visited by some 10,000 customers who in Sweden, Korea, United Kingdom and the United pay US$15 to have a front seat in watching a day in States where she guested in top shows such as the the life of Jennifer Ringley. Ellen De Generes Show and Oprah Winfrey Show.

240 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA But not all are on cyber exhibitionism." To Pinoy Part of the visual world is the use of color as rap icon Francis Magalona, the web was part of his part of political activism and social advocacies. life support system during his unsuccessful happy According to Naisbitt, the first to use color for battle" against cancer. To chronicle his treatment political campaigns in modern times was former for myelogenous leukemia, FrancisM, as he was president Corazon Aquino who used the color fondly called by colleagues and fans, created and yellow. In Iran. pink was the color of dissent, blue in maintained his website "A Free Mind on http:// Belarus. yellow and pink in Kyrgyzstan. and rose in francismagalona.multiply.com . He labelled his Georgia. chronicle happy battle," the title of one of his albums released in 1996. 11. Print Media Still Supreme

Make or Break is a regular radio program aired The print medium continues to be the medium over 102.7 FM. A listener calls the radio station of choice, both for publications and advertising. which contacts the partner or love interest of the According to Dominador Buhain, president of caller. The listener-caller talks to his or her partner the Southeast Asian Nations Book Publishers on-air to discuss personal matters, usually love Association, books and other printed matter still or marital problems. The latter is not aware that dominate the readers' universe. "In the global the conversation is being aired live and therefore setting, the print business is still 70 percent of the listened to by thousands of radio listeners total, with digital accounting for the remaining 30 nationwide, percent. We're still on the traditional stage, and have not completely moved to the multimedia age 10. Emergence of a Visual Culture just yet," he said. (Ho, 2009)

"A farewell to Gutenberg's world of It has also been pointed out that other forms of scripture, a we/come to MTV's world of media did not actually compete with printed matter, vision?" particularly books. In the same article by Abigail Ho, National Book Development Board executive According to Naisbitt (2006, p. 113), there is an director Andrea Pasion-Flores said, "Consumers unprecedented visual assertiveness in the world are different now, as compared with those from five today. It is an MTV world where visual narrative or 10 years ago. They now consume various forms is overwhelming literary narrative. Naisbitt points of content from different types of media," Pasion- to the decline in reading literacy worldwide with Flores cited research that showed that the more a the rate of decline highest among children and person surfs the Internet, watches TV, movies and young people compared with the adult population DVDs, the more he or she is likely to read books. Newspaper circulation has also been observed to be falling in many countries, a phenomenon 12. Citizen Journalism Naisbitt refers to as the "slow death of the newspaper culture." The world-renowned futurist Primetime news broadcasts now often include attributes this decline to the emerging visual news reports not from regular network culture of MTV. The explosion in the visual and correspondents but from ordinary citizens. These music world continues unabated with Internet contributions are either solicited or volunteered applications (including YouTube and DailyMotion), by individuals who happen to be in a place new generation cell phones, multimedia players when a particular news event occurred. Some (MP3s and MP4s), and video games. Quoting news networks encourage viewers or listeners University of Wisconsin Professor James Paul Gee to send in their news stories. The availability of Naisbitt describes video games as "the major new technologies particularly 3G cell phones cultural activity of the generation 30 or 35 and and handycams makes it easy for citizens to below, the way movies and literature were for be "journalists." Some have decided to upload earlier generations." their "news stories" in the YouTube. Citizens'

Communication Media and 241 the Future of Filipino Chitdren participation in news reporting is now referred to as Generation, i.e., digital media, multimedia, and computer animation, among others. Unlike their citizen journalism." parents and other elders, they need not leave Blogging and podcasting are also other ways of for abroad to work. They can do business (work) practicing" citizen journalism. Says Leo Magno, "In at home online through outsourcing schemes. Outsourcing may yet slow down the dis-integration blogging and podcasting, we are seeing ordinary citizens reach out to millions without the need to of the nuclear Filipino family brought about by the operate or buy air time from broadcasting stations. unabated "wholesale migration" that started in the We are seeing them create electronic magazines late 1980s. "Homesourcng gives family members without the need to operate a printing press.' opportunities tor more quality time to be together. The Internet and other new media channels have In the US, about 23.5 million or 16 percent of the expanded the court of public opinion. Blogging has labor force work from home (Friedman, 2006). become the "fifth estate." 14. New Media and "Schools of the Future' A raging debate is whether bloggers and podcasters can be considered journalists when The increasing number of out-of-school children they do not follow essential journalism principles and youth and young illiterates, kept out of school such as verification, etc. The main issue is whether because of poverty, can now be brought back in the advent of new media can lead to a redefinition the education loop through alternative learning of news and journalism. systems (ALS) and alternative delivery modes (ADM) using ICT-based tools. Schooling is no longer With children and young people at the forefront the only option to get an education, as one can of the new media revolution, it is likely that most pursue lifelong learning with the home, workplace, of the practitioners of citizen journalism belong worship place, and community centers as venues to this so-called Yahoo or Google Generation. A for education. recent UNESCO document (2009) on media and information literacy noted that this generation The school system can use ADM for children and does not accept that news and information young people such as street children, working should come from a daily newspaper or at set children, the physically disadvantaged, etc., who times from television and radio broadcasts. cannot go through the traditional classroom Rather, they expect to get information, news and setting. ADM is also ideal in communities affected entertainment when they want it and to share by natural and man-made calamities such as opinions, experiences and lifestyles through social conflict situations. networking sites. Most ALS and ADM interventions use communication media channels, such as radio and The growth of "citizen media" is a favorable trend, computers, for online learning. as it encourages the participation of children and the youth in the production and dissemination 15. Media and Information Literacy as Basic of information. However, this trend should be Competencies in the 21st century accompanied by adherence to ethical standards. This also has implications in the relationship "Media and information literacy" refers to a between professional journalists and citizen teaching and learning process and application of journalists, critical thinking to receiving and producing mass communication media. This implies knowledge 13. New Jobs and Careers for the Google of personal and social values, responsibilities Generation relating to the ethical use of information, as well as participation in cultural dialogue and New media channels and applications also are the maintenance of autonomy in a context providing new career options for the Google where influences eroding that autonomy may

242 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA be particularly subtle. Media and information media technology is a double-edged sword which literacy may be summed up as being centered on can be used either to serve the common good or five core competencies, referred to as the "5Cs": to protect the interests of a few. Communication comprehension, critical thinking, creativity, cross- technology does not take its own course. There cultural awareness, and citizenship. are determinant factors, such as communication "Media literacy is generally defined as the ability to policies (of government and business), economic access the media, to understand and to critically climate (e.g., cost determines access to evaluate different aspects of the media and media technology), political ideology (press freedom), contents and to create communications in a variety and democratic pluralism (role of civil society, of contexts. This definition has been validated by etc.). The presence or absence of specific policy a large majority of the respondents to the public and program interventions" will determine the consultation and by the members of the Media impact of communication technology on our Literacy Expert Group." (European Network on children's lives within the next two decades. Long- Information Literacy website) term consequences can be observed in these areas: individual privacy; family and community "Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to relations; lifestyles and workstyles; socioeconomic education. It provides a framework to access, productivity; social equity (e.g., access to basic analyze, evaluate and create messages in a variety education and literacy, health, nutrition, other of forms - from print to video to the Internet. social services); culture, values and national Media literacy builds an understanding of the role identity; culture of peace; and political participation of media in society as well as essential skills of or democratic pluralism (see Table 1). inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy." (Centre for Media Literacy website) On the other hand, interventions needed are In teaching media and information literacy, viewed as supportive of the common good and teachers focus on engaging critically with facilitative of the attainment and sustainability information, developing analytical, organizational of children's rights (see Table 2 for summary of and evaluative skills, and problem solving and these interventions and Part V of this Report for a communication. They focus on the competencies detailed discussion). that underlie intentional learning and that will allow critical engagement with future media content and Table 3 describes the environment of the Filipino form and emerging information and communication child likely to develop within the next few years tools. with and without these interventions. The scenario likely to happen with interventions constitutes our desired scenario. Scenario for the YouTube Generation

Communication media technology will continue to dominate political, economic and socio-cultural development. We are moving into the Knowledge Society, although no one can adequately describe its contours because of rapid and continuing technological changes. But the basic question remains: Will the new technologies lead to a better quality of life for our children?

As previous analyses of trends indicate, the impact of technological development could go either way - positive or negative. Communication

communcatior- Mediaa1243 the Future of Filipino children Megatrends Impact Areas*

Technology (Format) Globalization Transborder flow of information

Multimedia convergence (including Family and community relations mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures) (especially diaspora communities)

Interactivity Cultural homogenization or cultural diversity

Channel explosion Technology and delivery of social services (education, health, nutrition, etc.)

Demassification and Lifestyles decentralization of media (alternative media) Worhsty)es, e.g.. outsourcing. homesourcing Digital divide Mobile sociality or solitary mobility

Access to technology and information

Content Information explosion Culture, values and national identity

Niche programming Cultural homogenization or cultural diversity Emergence of visual culture User-generated content, including Creative expressions peer-to-peer sharing Privacy or Tell-All Society

Copyright and public domain information

Process Children and youth as dominant media Creative expressions producers and consumers

Citizen journalism Media and information literacy as basic competencies Women-empowering media Freedom of expression and Alternative learning systems/ other forms of political participation alternative delivery modes Multimedia career options for children and youth

* as they affect comprehensive child development

244 1 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA Megatrends Policy/ Program Interventions

Information and channel explosion Use of mother tongue as language of learning and social interaction

Right to Information Act

Promotion of public domain information and free and open source software

Public online networking subsidy

Institutionalization of distance education

Human resource development for curriculum developers and other facilitators of learning

Conversion of government broadcast networks into a PBS

Department of ICT

Community e-Centers (telecenters)

Niche programming (specialized channels) Distance education (including tele-medicine)

Human resource development for planners of media programs for children

Demassification and decentralization Community Media Incentives Act of mass media Community-based broadcasting

Regional communication resource centers

Community a-Centers

Interactive media and convergence Department of ICT of technology

Children and youth as dominant Media and information literacy in formal and nonformal education media audience/user Child rights sensitivity programming

Development of multimedia content for children

Women empowering media Gender-sensitivity programs for media

Review and updating of women-related provisions of codes of ethics

Continuing rise of NGOs Alternative Broadcast Program Development Fund

Media relations and advocacy training

Media watch (monitoring)

Policy and program advocacy campaigns

Globalization Alternative Broadcast Program Development Fund

Media Education through guidelines, rather than outright censorship

Communication Technology Planning and Evaluation Commission

Communication Media and 245 the Future of Filipino Children Positive Trends Scenarios Program/Policy Options

Information and channel explosion Digitized newsroom Public online networking subsidy

Demassification of media Multimedia applications in lifestyle, Community e-Centers workstyle, family and community relations, Specialized channels and political participation, etc. Expansion of computerization program niche programming in all schools (especially public) Interactive multimedia channels where Interactive multimedia technology media users (audience) co-create product Promotion of public domain information and services they need rather than and free and open source software Women in media empowerment depend on market supply

Increase in the number of children's Specialized channels and programming for Institutionalization of distance programs/messages special sectors education

Re-skilling and re-tooling of computer Universal computer literacy Human resource development for and telecommunication planners for media programs for literate workforce "Digitization" of government offices, children, curriculum developers and business establishments, hospitals, other facilitators of learning Communication and information as banks, etc. "new age" profession; specialization Conversion of government broadcast further diversifies jobs Global mass media complemented by network into a Public Broadcasting community media System Emergence of small to "mega" enterprises arising from Convergence of technology using wireless Creation of a Department of ICT telecommunications, computer and telecommunication multimedia revolutions Free flow and accessible information

Negative Trends Scenarios Program/Policy Options Expansion of Community v-Centers Urban and elite concentration of Computer or techno-illiterate and technophobic populace communication technology leading Expansion of community-based to lack of access by marginalized broadcasting sectors (rural populace, urban/ Inequitable economic and political rural poor, etc.) structure between techno-poor and techno-rich societies Media and information literacy in formal and non-formal education Overdependence on technology in the workplace, home, leisure, etc. Excessive commercialism and materialism in the global and national (local) mass Policies on socio-cultural aspects of mass media and information Excessive competition among growing media number of actors in mass media and A comprehensive policy framework telecommunications sector. Information wars or extreme competition for information especially on new information technology and cable TV Dominance of sex and violence in media Global cultural homogenization Policies on "rationing" of information Excessive commercialism and highways and redesigning of rules both consumerism of media content Monitoring and greater citizens vigilance on excessive sex and violence on media for commercial markets and information- poor communities Slow pace in the indigenization of Competition will force small players to mass media and other cultural products, Policy on use of filter software in various compared with onslaught of global close down locations (western) cultural products. Laws on protection of children and women against cyber crimes, e.g., pornography, trafficking

Restructuring of the National Council for Children's Television into National Council for Children's Media

Policy on use of mother tongue as language of learning and social interaction

246^ INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA Policy and Program Agenda but instead be converted into units of CeCs (Lallana, 2009). Telcos will deploy The time frame for the proposed policy and action and manage the CeCs in marginalized agenda coincides with the development planning communities similar to the SAS model cycle of the national government and the UN adopted in the 1990s. But unlike SAS, system in the Philippines. The current Medium- telcos will not roll out voice but Internet Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) ends service only. Telcos will develop a in 2010 and its successor plan will be for 2011- business model suitable for CeCs and 2016. The country programs of the World Bank and determine the best technology option to various UN agencies in the Philippines, including roll out. UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNESCO, have agreed to adopt this timetable. Alternative Content Development Fund

It is hoped that some of the proposals included Production costs for quality alternative in this paper can be integrated in the succeeding programming is prohibitive, especially MTPDP and country programs. for independent and non-commercial producers. At the same time, revenues Immediate (Short-Term) Agenda (2009-2011) for such programs are not always adequate to cover costs. A. Executive Action Necessary to balance the influence of • Public Online Networking and commercialism on mainstream media, Community e-Centers alternative content is intended for both multimedia platforms and the broadcast To democratize access to online (global) industry. Content development initiatives information networking, the national should be given priority support vis-à-vis government (through the CICT) and infrastructure development and capability local government units should expand building (training). Content development but, at the same time, rationalize the should focus on the use of public domain introduction of Community e-Centers information, open content and open (telecenters) nationwide. Community source software. e-Centers have the potential to serve as channels for producing, sharing and A common concern of Community disseminating content on child rights e-Centers is the lack of access to content and other child-related concerns. CeC produced by development agencies operations have to be rationalized in from government and other sectors. terms of the following: local content Developing content is also constrained by development, capability building for CeC the dominance of proprietary materials. staff, and adoption and implementation of manual of operations and business To encourage groups to continue plans. producing alternative (content) programs, the government, in cooperation with • Private Sector Involvement in Internet the private sector, may provide either Deployment seed money or a counterpart fund for these independent products. Such It has been suggested that a a development fund may be needed certain portion of income taxes of until the appropriate environment for telecommunications companies should alternative programming is established not be turned over to the government or, in the case of broadcasting, a Public

Communication Media and 247 the Future of Fiipino Chiidren

Broadcasting System (PBS) is set up and converted into a Public Broadcasting

becomes the regular channel for the System with education as one of its major airing of alternative programs. mandates.

The proposed development fund for Media and Information Literacy broadcasting may be managed by the Program in Schools National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through its Broadcast Arts Considering that children and the youth Committee or the Cultural Center for the constitute the bulk of media users, a Philippines (CCP). For e-content, the CICT sustained and systematic media and shall take the lead. information literacy program should be instituted in all elementary and high Institutionalization of Distance schools. Media and information literacy Education develops critical awareness among media users of the value and quality of Various options can be identified to media programs. It will enable users to institutionalize distance education. identify media content which not only is Some do not need enabling legislation to of technical quality, but more important, facilitate the process. helps develop appropriate values and behavior. Media and information literacy First, universities and colleges should be also includes enabling children and young encouraged to offer distance education adults to become socially responsible and similar to the UP Open University ethical media producers. Program. But our schools should first invest in workforce training, self-learning Media literacy should empower children module development, multimedia and the youth to demand or advocate for planning and production, monitoring and and produce content or programs which evaluation, etc. Some of them own and will promote their total development and operate radio stations which could serve meet their social, cultural, political and as the main learning delivery channel. spiritual needs.

Because of the high cost of investment Community Learning Centers in involved in distance education (especially Marginalized Communities with the use of broadcast, on-line computers, and telecom services), Community learning centers (CLC5) can universities or colleges may opt to enter complement existing public schools by into consortium, joint programs, and the providing print and audiovisual materials. like. At present, the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) with LGU5 has More cable channels should be been setting up CLC5 for out-of-school encouraged to offer educational children, youth and even non-literate broadcasting. Cable TV owners and adults. their associations can closely link with academic institutions for a resource- • Promotion of Public Domain Information sharing scheme. and Free and Open Source Software

Distance education can be further The CICT should adopt a program which boosted if the government broadcast will promote the use of public domain network (especially NBN Channel 4) is information (PDI) particularly those

248 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA related to child development and child child abuse materials using various rights. This program will complement media formats. the government's aggressive promotion of respect for copyright and other These bills recognize that the advent of proprietary rights under the aegis of the ICT has abetted pornography through new Intellectual Property Office. Related to the platforms such as mobile phones and promotion of PDI is the promotion of free digital cameras, pirated VCDs and DVDs, and open source software (FOSS). etc. The Internet further has facilitated the speedy production, possession and Universal Internet Access Policy distribution of pornographic photos and videos. The Philippines should adopt a Universal Internet Access Policy consistent with the • Proposed Laws to Curb Sex and WSIS goal of providing easy, affordable, Violence in Mass Media, Cable TV, and and usable access to information Advertising goods and services that promote a just, democratic and inclusive society. Several bills have been filed in both Toward this end, we should also support houses of Congress that seek to limit the adoption of a "Broadband Bill of excessive sex and violence in media Rights" as proposed by the Center for and advertising. For example, Senate Digital Democracy or CDC (see http:// Bill 1351 seeks to limit exposure of www.democraticmedia.org/billofrights . children to violent programming on TV html) which includes the following and cable system, while Senate Bill 2539 ten principles: choice (open access seeks to penalize advertising and media regulations), non-discrimination, privacy, companies which exploit women and open systems, interoperability, public glorify sexual violence in advertisements. interest obligations, civic content, Senate Bill 2345 prohibits the public educational opportunities, children's exhibition or display of obscene and/or programming, and digital divide. distractive motion or still pictures along major thoroughfares.

B. Legislative Action • Amendment to the National Council for Children's Television Mandate • Proposed Laws on Child Pornography and Cyber Crimes The Council's present mandate has been limited to television. With technological The Philippines being a state party to convergence and growing preference for both the UN Convention on the Rights of new media channels among children, the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol there is a need to amend the coverage to the UN Convention on the Rights of of the law creating NCCTV. The aim is the Child on the Sale of Children, Child not for the Council to "regulate" new Prostitution and Child Pornography media channels but rather to promote should immediately pass an anti-child the use of new media as platforms for pornography law. There are several bills child development and child participation filed in both houses of Congress defining through an appropriate incentive system. what constitutes child pornography and

Communication Media and 49 the Future of Filipino Children • Enactment of Privacy Law that the Department's membership should be multidisciplinary. There is need for legislation related to the protection of privacy or a comprehensive • Conversion of the Government Media data protection law that governs the Network into a Public Broadcasting collection, use and dissemination of System (PBS) personal information by both the public and private sectors A Public Broadcasting System (PBS) addresses the problem of high costs • Creation of a Department of Information on investment in media infrastructure and Communications Technology (DICT) and provides the venue for socially- oriented programs which do not have Existing executive offices in charge of much commercial value. The envisioned communication/ information technology system will consist of the TV network are engrossed in regulation and execution (National Broadcasting Network) and a of policies, with very limited resources few radio stations (now under the Public and efforts for long-range planning. Broadcasting System). The legislative branch (Congress), on the other hand, tends to develop laws There have been efforts in the previous with limited perspective (as they can Congress to convert NBN into a PBS. be amended and replaced anyway). However, the national government has Considering that information and opted to transform it into a government communication technology will be the corporation instead. Several reasons driving force for economic growth in the were mentioned for this decision, 21st century, adequate attention should foremost of which is that the government be focused on how best to plan for the needs a strong information channel to use of new communication technology for reach out to the entire country for political development. stability. There is also fear that PBS is not financially viable. The proposed DICT should be part of the priority legislative agenda. The What is needed is an independent and Department will focus on "cutting- alternative channel. A government- edge issues" or those which impact owned and controlled network may not on the setting up and utilization of the be able to adequately reflect the views information superhighway. Among and provide the information needs of these issues are ownership, regulatory the public and sectoral interest groups, framework, technology convergence, as its responsibility is to first present the transborder information flow, technology government's stance. transfer, globalization and national security. But the long-term viability of a PBS needs further study in light of the Another important function of the communication technology revolution. proposed Department is rationalization of There may be a need to "re-engineer" the technology transfer and monitoring and structure of the traditional "monolithic" evaluation. The Department is envisioned PBS and adopt the community-based to conduct technology assessment, broadcasting (CBB) concept. The including socio-cultural impact national network is "demassified" or assessment, in addition to economic and "decentralized" into a local PBS for technological considerations. This means more localized alternative programming

250 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA through UHF, VHF and even cable expression and privacy of individuals systems. New technologies can link including children. Guidelines should not these community-based stations with lead to curtailment of creative expression each other and to national and even by children. global media, thus eliminating the danger of parochialism in content and outlook. The use of filtering or blocking software for Internet sites that contain unwanted C. The Role of Family and Community content for children may be explored by schools, homes, and even public Internet Parents as Responsible Internet Users cafes. However, no blocking system is foolproof, as even computer savvy Parents and other adults can only "guide" children can find codes to break through their children on responsible Internet filters. use if they themselves have adequate digital literacy. Parents who are computer Responsible Social Networking literate are more likely to encourage their children to enhance their IT skills Adults should be reminded that when and reap the benefits of the Internet. they create Friendster accounts for their Parents and adults should endeavor to underage children/siblings, they are continuously upgrade their own digital teaching them to lie. (Note: Children literacy. must be at least 18 years old to have a Friendster account.) They should also be • Reasonable Guidelines on the Use of encouraged to check the websites that the Internet their children visit and be aware of the people that their children communicate Rule or guidelines on responsible use with online. of the Internet can be agreed upon by parents (guardians) and children. For Use of Filter Software example, families can be encouraged to place computers in shared rooms (such Parents and guardians should consider as living rooms, dining rooms, offices the use of filter software that can protect or libraries), where children will not be children and young people from stumbling isolated and will use the Internet with over or deliberately accessing harmful, others around them. Also, schools and illegal and inappropriate websites and parents should teach children never online content. Filter software could be to share personal information (name, installed at the following locations: end- address, telephone) online. user's PC, local server, Internet Service Provider, and proxy server-based Internet Parental control" may still be a key filtering service. According to the Youth in keeping very young children safe Protection Roundtable Toolkit (YPRT), filter on the Internet. Parents, especially of software is estimated to block about half elementary children, can impose time of all websites with age inappropriate limitation and websites that can be visited and violent content and slightly higher by their children especially in home effectiveness for illegal content. Internet use.

But guidelines on Internet use should recognize such rights as right of

Communication MediaunTh51 the Future of Filipino Children I D. Non-Government Organizations NGOs can initiate media monitoring Agenda activities, including content analysis, to rate or even rank media organizations Media Relations and Advocacy Training against previously set criteria. Results of broadcast monitoring can be the basis for Issues and concerns of NGOs and POs as the renewal of broadcast franchises. well as their views on local and national issues are not well ventilated in media. NGO5 can also help shape media policies. NGOs are generally not public relations For example, the Gabriela Commission conscious and do not have access to on Children and Family has prepared mainstream media. NGOs and POs, a set of guidelines for Child-Sensitive especially those working for children's Handling and Coverage of Children's rights, need a capability-building seminar- Cases, especially since cases of child workshop on media relations and prostitution, abuse, delinquency, etc. advocacy. seem to be increasing and are regarded as hot media items." Civil society organizations are no longer limited to traditional media - print and Promotion of Public Domain Information broadcast. New media channels have proven to be effective platforms for NGOs and other sectors should support dialogue, advocacy and mobilization. efforts in promoting pubic domain There are websites and social network information and free and open source sites that can be tapped. software discussed earlier.

Media Watch, Policy and Program Advocacy E. Mass Media Sector

Civil society organizations/ NGOs are Child Rights-Sensitive Programming effective advocacy and pressure groups in demanding quality media content or Media owners, producers and performers programming. Media managers can no should be more sensitive to children's longer ignore the impact of NGO lobbying rights, as the media audience is now on their corporate image and market predominantly children and the youth. share. Sensitivity means not only providing more children-oriented programs but, What are some of the "doables" for more important, being sensitive in using NGOs to sustain or enhance their growing language and visual images. influence? NGO5 can launch advocacy campaigns for or against a media policy, Aside from increasing CRC-related content/ programming, personality, programs or content, media should also etc. which they think are inimical to the broaden access and participation of common good and the rights of the child children and youth in various aspects of in particular. NGOs have built a track planning and programming. Sensitivity record of success in such activities. must also include protecting the rights NGOs should keep track of the legislative of young media personalities who are agenda of both houses of Congress, engaged in a form of child labor. including those related to children and communication media.

252 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDIA