Manila, June 30, 2023—Students from the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Cebu Normal University clinched the first-place in the Pak! Check Video Making Contest. The sub-competition took place under the Philippine Fact-Checking Summit 2023, held at the esteemed Dr. George S.K. Ty Hall on the 4th floor of the Blessed Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, University of Santo Tomas, Manila.
The awarding ceremony, held on June 30, 2023, aimed to bring awareness to the pressing issue of information disorder and the importance of fact-checking in combating it. It was organized by organizations such as Media Civics Lab Fact Checking Academy, Break the Fake Movement, Internews, Rappler, Facts First PH, and Rappler Move PH.
The victorious team, known as “Fact Warriors,” comprised three students: Carl John Griño, Hoehnferdz Gonzaga, and Lourdes Isabella Corpuz. Their winning video explored the critical issue of information disorder, specifically focusing on misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. The team carefully selected these types of information disorders based on the guidelines and criteria provided by the event organizers, ensuring the content remained relevant and informative.
Despite facing time constraints due to their busy schedules, the team demonstrated unwavering determination. They produced their entry on the day of the submission while two team members simultaneously worked on internship requirements. The scriptwriting took place the night before the deadline, and the materials were meticulously edited on the night of the submission. Prior to producing the content, the team conducted thorough research, gathering different factual information to strengthen their video.
“We realized the significance of fact-checking and the responsibility of communicators in helping people become more discerning consumers of information, especially in today’s vast media landscape,” Gonzaga stated.
Their video highlighted effective fact-checking strategies in a simple and direct manner, emphasizing the basics of fact-checking as a vital foundation for assessing information on social media platforms. The content focused on debunking false information, providing essential tips for assessing information, and promoting media information literacy. Additionally, the video
suggested various reliable websites and pages that viewers could utilize to determine the reliability of information, empowering individuals to combat information disorder and avoid falling victim to misleading content.
With their skills as researchers and writers, the team stressed the significance of relying on credible sources to ensure the accuracy of the information in their video entry. The key to their entry was the emphasis on strengthening Media and Information Literacy. The team firmly believed that integrating this subject into educational curricula would equip students with the critical skills needed to identify false information and make them less susceptible to sharing misleading content.
“We believe that by integrating this subject [Media and Information Literacy] into educational curricula, students will develop the critical skills necessary to identify false information and become less susceptible to sharing misleading content,” Griño stated with conviction.
Other winners in the contest included the second-place “Happy Pride” from St. Louis University Baguio, the third-place “JEDMIG” from Mary Immaculate Parish Special School, and “Explained PH” from Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa.
The Pak! Check Video Making Contest showcased the talents and dedication of the students, furthering the fight against information disorder and promoting the crucial practice of fact-checking.The Fact Warriors’ fact-checking skills and commitment to promoting media literacy have earned them well-deserved recognition. Their work stands as a testament to the
power of communication in disseminating reliable information and combating the spread of misinformation in the digital age.
Written by: Marie Therese S. Pacaña
Photo grabbed: Media Civics Club
