Bonz Magsambol, Rappler multimedia reporter and Department of Development Journalism (DDJ) lecturer, was one of the panelists of the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar (JVOJS) 2023 spearheaded by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City on 19 October 2023.

He and four other Filipino journalists were recognized at the event. He was able to share practical field wisdom covering the Senate, as well as the education and health sectors. Some of his recent achievements include being one of the fellows of the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) Journalism Program last June and being recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) for his public health reportage during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also a CDC alumnus.

The panel discussion centered on the ways on how mainstream media could remain relevant amidst the fast-paced, continually changing landscape of Philippine society. Some of the timely matters tackled were Generative AI, short-form journalism, and the political economy of media.

Through DDJ, CDC also supported the event through the participation of its students from the DEVC 126 (Participatory Development Journalism) and DEVC 127 (Data Journalism for Development) classes, accompanied by Mr. Miguel Victor T. Durian, DDJ University Extension Associate II.

The four other panelists were Katrina Domingo (ABS-CBn News), Christina Chi (Philstar.con), Jodesz Gavilan (Rappler), and Mike Navallo (ABS-CBN News). The latter two were hailed as the 2023 Marshall McLuhan Fellow and CMFR Distinction Awardee, respectively. 

Led by Executive Director Melinda Quintos-de Jesus, CMFR is a media monitoring non-profit that upholds press freedom and ethical journalism. JVOJS is its an annual event dedicated to uphold the practice of investigative and explanatory reporting. This year marks its on-site return after three years of being held online due to the pandemic. (Jan Carlo Basilio; Photo credits: Blessy Lyn Espenilla)