Fake news critic now heads federation of beat journalists

CEBU, Philippines — The newly-instated head of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) has vowed to wage a fight against makers and promoters of fake news and misinformation.

The FREEMAN's Mitchelle Palaubsanon, a staunch critic of fake news, sits as the new CFBJ president pushing for a more relevant thrust in her reign.

“Kung si (President Rodrigo) Duterte aduna’y war on drugs, the CFBJ under my administration will have ‘war on fake news.’ Fake news creates chaos and confusion amidst the advancement of technology,” said the 42-year-old veteran journalist, who, significantly, is the first female president of CFBJ’s 18 years of existence.

CFBJ was instituted in 2000 that presently has over 150 members of legitimate reporters, photojournalists and cameramen in Cebu engaged in credible and truthful reporting.

“I am therefore urging all of you, my friends in the media that we should be a vanguard of truth, not lies. We should not and never spread fake news in any manner,” she said before the CFBJ members in her speech during the organization’s 18th general assembly at City Sports Club in Cebu City on September 19.

“We, the mainstream media, must continue to value our work as the public's verifiable information hub and in order for us to stay relevant.  Despite the advent of social media, the mainstream media still enjoy a high sense of credibility when it comes to news reporting. The public still trust us and therefore, we should not fail them,” she said.

The program also included the induction of new officers of the CFBJ, which comprises of 11 beat assignments namely: Regional Journalists in Cebu (REJOICE); Defense PNP Press Corps (DEPP); City Hall Association of Reporters in Media (CHARM); Capitol Association of Reporters in Tri-Media (CART); Entertainment Group (E-Group); Cebu Economic Journalists Association (CEJA); Association of Reporters in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu for Integrity, Truth and Liberty (ARMALITE); Media in Cebu South (MICS); LENS; Sports Correspondents and Reporters (SCORE) and Media Association for Law, Liberty, Equality and Truth (MALLET).

The general assembly is one of the yearly activities lined up for the Cebu Press Freedom Week in Cebu observed every third week of September.

Palaubsanon said the event is an avenue for local media men to come together and celebrate the vital role of journalists in relaying “important information to the public” that has to be fast and accurate.

“Our role cannot be downplayed as this will shape public opinion and government policies that will affect the lives of the communities that we ourselves also belong to,” she said.

“In these interesting times, we are threatened not by social media as we openly embrace the digital age ourselves. We are threatened by the powers of the personalities that use the social media as a tool for disinformation, misinformation, and fake news,” she further said.

Palaubsanon was one of the local reporters who strongly and fearlessly criticized the viral Cebu Flash Report which became controversial after it reported a bomb hoax in Lapu-Lapu City.

“Many of you were with me in this fight against fake news and massive misinformation of this Facebook account, until they have mellowed down and even stop stealing stories and photos from us,” she said.

Palaubsanon replaced Elias Baquero, who headed the organization for 14 years and was also acknowledged for his efforts during his leadership. — MBG (FREEMAN)