DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) — National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) XI Regional Director Nelson Cañete joined the discussion on who should be recognized as media practitioners.
This was tackled during the September 2023 Monthly Meeting of the Information Officers Network (ION) of Davao del Norte done on Sept. 21 and hosted by the Municipal Mayor’s Office of Sto. Tomas through its Municipal Information Office (MIO).
Basing on his views as a long-time broadcaster of known radio stations based in Davao City, he cited the definition of media practitioners according to the standards of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodcasters sa Pilipinas.
However, Cañete pointed out the need to widen the recognition of “media practitioners” to provide an “inclusive” view of the practice to cover the government information officers, those using the social media as their medium, the school-based press students, among others.
He expressed this view giving cognizance that the word “media” means “medium” and those practicing as media become the medium of information and communication. He also said that media is a vocation or calling with the passion to serve the public with information.
Given the multiple definitions of “media” and the varying views on who should be called as media practitioners, Cañete lauded the ION and other group/individuals for their initiatives to deepen the discussion regarding the matter.
National Telecommunications Commission XI Regional Director Nelson Cañete during the monthly regular meeting of Davao del Norte Information Officers Network (ION)
On the other hand, he made it clear that the regional office of NTC is bound by its mandate to inspect and check the operations of broadcast entities based on the standards, and it is also given the mandate to recommend the closure of the broadcast stations that fail to comply with the standard requirements.
He also made stressed that NTC stands by its mandate based on legal requirements of operating a broadcast entity, regardless of the good broadcast practices of its media practitioners. (JMDA/PIA Davao del Norte/ Photos from MIO Sto Tomas & PIA DavNor)
