Over the past five years, IMS has developed the concept of accountability journalism (AJ) to address reporting gaps especially in the recovery and reconstruction phases following natural disasters. The objective is to promote accountability by enabling local media to act as a watchdog during the reconstruction phase.
The post-typhoon Odette situation in the Philippines provides a relevant context for the AJ project to gain acceptance and take root given the country's vulnerability to natural hazards, especially typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
While national and local media covered the disaster and its immediate aftermath, they have not reported much from the affected areas in recent months, the organizer said.
It was clear that countless accountability stories are waiting to be told: the failure to rebuild schools and communities, relocation to areas and buildings that affected people cannot afford, "no budget to rebuild," etc.
Organizers said that as experienced elsewhere, good AJ could help to inform people, manage their expectations, giving affected communities a voice, and hold authorities and relevant agencies to account. There are also bigger dimensions that warrant coverage, including other disasters and climate risks, national disaster preparedness, and psychosocial support structures and mechanisms, among others.
The two-day seminar was attended by Rey Anthony Chiu, Ric Obedencio, Anthony Aniscal and Allen Doydora of dyRD/Bohol Chronicle, Weng Vallecer and Cesar Capangpangan of dyYR, Cooper Resabal of Vera Files and Leo Udtohan.
On the first day, Andreas Sugar of IMS and Jesper Nymark of Danwatch, an independent media and research center specialized in investigative journalism on global issues, talked about AJ and how it works.
Qaris Tajudin of Tempo Institute via Zoom shared his Indonesia experience covering disaster. He shared techniques and models that can be shared to help journalists everywhere make reporting on government and civic affairs more effective.
Warren Ubongen, former United Nations (UN) Habitat Project Manager of Rebuilding Marawi shared about a UN perspective on early recovery.
The gains and challenges of typhoon Odette early recovery, rehabilitation in Bohol was explained by Anthony Damalerio, the provincial disaster risk and reduction management officer.
Francis Bernard Batoy of Bohol Alliance of Non-Government Organizations (Bangon) also tackled about community response to typhoon Odette which devasted the province.
Jun Sepe of ABS-CBN and Che delos Reyes of IMS also shared their insights on disaster preparedness reporting.
Lawyer Jun Amora, chief of staff of Gov. Aris Aumentado also gave his inspirational message. He said the media and the provincial government are serving the same community.
The working sessions on the second day were facilitated by Red Batario and G Sevilla Alvarez of CCDJ and were designed to unearth what the participants needed to champion accountability journalism.
The AJ project in the Philippines will be implemented initially as a pilot which could subsequently be scaled up and converted into a longer-term effort through the IMS country program. Its main implementing partner is Vera Files that will be working closely with local and national media organizations such as the CCJD, civil society groups and networks as well as relevant UN and other international agencies.
The project aims to promote and build capacity of community journalists and news organizations for post-disaster AJ, strengthen links between local and national media, civil society, relevant UN agencies, and other monitoring groups using an eco-system approach, produce Accountability Journalism content for various news media platforms, and pave the way for longer-term AJ engagement through IMS country program.
The consultation and interfacing workshop on building Media-CSO coalition for AJ in Bohol is the first phase of the Philippine project.
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