ZAMBOANGA CITY - - To keep at speed with the latest trends
in media and to maximize dissemination of government information thru such
medium, personnel of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 9 received
“Training on the new trends in Media” conducted recently in Cebu City.
Allan Ed Capulong, Consultant,
Presidential New Media, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
who served as speaker /lecturer during the training said “the new media” is an
inevitable trend, a reality that is fast growing and widely used. PIA therefore,
being the information arm of government should be up and upbeat with it or else
wake up someday and find out “you are already obsolete or left behind,” he
said.
According to Allan, new media
gives “Opportunity to people to connect directly to the president; opens the
avenue for introverts and is even considered a political revolution and “game”
changer.
Understanding the New Media
New media
according to research “emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. It
refers to on-demand access to content anytime, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user
feedback, creative participation and community formation around the media
content.
New media content are generated in real-time, of which content is new and unregulated.
According to Wikipedia “most technologies
described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of
being manipulated,
networkable, dense, compressible,
and interactive.”
Examples of new media are Internet, websites,
blogs, computer multimedia, video games, CD-ROMS and DVDs. Wikipedia, an online
encyclopedia, is an example. Facebook is another example of the social
media model, in which most users are also participants. Youtube is another
example of new media.
“It’s not media (press people) ang puro
naglalagay ng laman, it’s the power of people to send content” Allan explained
in his lecture.
New media does not include television programs, feature films, magazines, books, or paper-based
publications – unless they contain technologies that enable digital
interactivity.
The Filipino Internet Users
According to Allan, if PIA wants
to be more effective in maximizing info dissemination (in today’s era), the
agency should be visible in the world of “new media”.
“You should be on facebook,
tweeter, blogs, Youtube or any social media where you could spread government
information, programs and projects to the netizens”, Allan said.
According to him, of the 101
million Filipinos, 33.6 million are online, 28 million are on facebook, and 10
million are on tweeter.
“Industry estimate is that by
next year (2013) there will be 50M or half of the population on line,” he was
sure.
“We also have to accept that
youth of today is now into internet, and if you want to influence this youth
thru your sharing of quality information, then you should be in the
circulation,” he added.
Allan shared 85% of the young
generation ages 18-20 years old and 74% with ages 21-24 years old have access
to internet.
“Statistics shows that 71% of
Income classes ABC are into internet while 51% of income class D is into
internet,” he added.
Access to internet has increased
from 2% penetration 10 yrs ago. It has improved to 9% in 2009 and a whopping
33% in 2012. To date there are 33.6% Filipino internet users, Allan informed.
“According to international Data
Corporation (IDC), 86% are part of a
social network” Allan was quoted as saying.
“The market you are serving,
already have the power to choose,” Allan said. Meaning information are not just
downloaded or handed to them by the media alone, but they (market/netizens) too
have the power to give information, give content, feedback, interact or
participate.
“In new media, everybody is a
writer, a reporter’ he quipped
"The internet has taken over radio
and newspaper in getting news in the Philippine setting," Allan said as he showed statistics where
Filipino people get their news: 45% internet, 36% radio, 12% newspaper 4%
magazine, 89% television.
“People have less time to read,
they go for short news and info graphics’ he said.
Information graphics or infographics
according to Wikipedia are graphic visual representations of information,
data or knowledge.
These graphics
present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs,
maps, journalism,
technical writing, and education.
“Tweeter is very successful
because tweets are limited to 149 characters, putting only more relevant
information,” he held.
New media for Government
Allan said, new media gives state
workers the opportunity to track and analyze
what people are saying and hear their
sentiments about the government , “and with these, we can plan our data and
engage into proper actions” he said.
“Online is the new hotline, new
frontline and new lifeline, it is therefore a must that you should be in it,”
Allan challenged the participants.
“New Media for government is
about real time and speed and about the other angle. It’s about President Noy
talking to his people, showing that he is on the move. It’s about the other
thing, building excitement, is about recognizing faceless heroes, is about PNoy
appreciating volunteers, is about people seeing PNoy’s point of view, is about
seeing PNoy’s impact, is about showing who is more important in this gov’t, is about real emotions and best practices,”
Allan concluded.
Allan also shared the best time
to post on line news/press releases: “Specific
to Filipinos, based on a 6 months trending, it is best that we post our news
stories at 9:00-10:30 in the morning and 11:00-12:30 noon and 5:00-6:30 in the
evening during weekdays.,” he advised. (JPA/PIA9-ZBST)