Pulitzer Prize winner urges journos, content creators to unite in retelling EDSA legacy 

AMID DIALOGUES that aim to separate journalism and content creation in delivering credible information, journalists and content creators were encouraged to collaborate in combating historical disinformation.

In a panel discussion for the 39th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Manuel Mogato emphasized the need for cooperation between the media and content creators to regain public trust.

“Dapat magkaroon ng maraming collaboration sa legacy media at sa content creators—paano maging compelling, paano maging interesting, paano maging masaya yung nanunuod sa amin," Mogato said at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Education Auditorium in the Albertus Magnus Building on Feb. 26, Wednesday.

Mogato, who was among the reporters to cover the 1986 revolt, described traditional journalists as “Jurassic,” saying that they move and adapt slowly which could hinder their ability to deliver information. 

He acknowledged that the media's credibility suffered under the Duterte administration as journalists were “demonized” and labeled as biased and untrustworthy. 

“[W]e should reinvent ourselves… Maski content creator ka o journalist ka, yun lang dapat ang prinsipyo natin—accuracy. Truth-telling at evidence-based yung ating ginagawa kasi diyan lamang tayo ang pagkakatiwalaan,” Mogato said.

“Sana bumalik nating itiwala sa ating mga journalists at sana makatulong yung mga content creator para tumaas naman yung views namin,” he added.

TikTok content creator and Drag Race Philippines Season 3 finalist Ryan “Tita Baby” Pronstoller echoed this sentiment, saying it is valuable for journalists and creators to work together.

“[I]t was a brilliant idea for journalists and content creators to partner together… Filipinos are so lucky to actually be doing it kasi sa ibang bansa, bawal doon,” Pronstoller said.

For history geek Mona “Mighty Magulang” Magno-Veluz, journalists can easily transition into content creation but the same cannot be said the other way around because content creators tend to blend facts with personal storytelling which their viewers perceive as authentic.

“Journalists can very easily move to the content creation space. They just need to find their voice and people to collaborate with,” she said.  

Magno-Veluz further emphasized the importance of inclusivity, highlighting that some traditional journalists tend to look down on content creators, questioning their credibility as influencers. According to her, there should be no gatekeeping in the industry as it limits opportunities for collaboration. 

Preserving the truth

Since President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took office in June 2022, his administration has downgraded the EDSA commemoration by removing February 25 from the list of special non-working holidays in the following years.

TikTok star Vince “Mathilda Airlines” Quinabandal emphasized that it is the responsibility of the youth to preserve the truth about EDSA.

Quinabandal stressed the need to protect and sustain the EDSA spirit for future generations, ensuring that the freedom achieved through collective resistance is upheld and remembered. 

“Always remember na hindi niyo naman kailangan mag-rally kasama ko sa labas o sa lansangan, but always remember that we can still fight for the things that do not directly affect us and it's called empathy,” Quinabandal, who makes infotainment videos, said.

“And when it comes to journalism and in content creation, iisa lang ang nature natin—we strive to be truthful than to be neutral because everything is political,” she said.

The content creator also pointed out that older generations are more vulnerable to disinformation so the younger generation should help protect them from absorbing it by taking the initiative to disconnect them from misinformative accounts.

“I-unsubscribe and i-unfollow na rin natin yung mga kanilang mga fina-follow na sa tingin natin na hindi healthy sa kanila, especially in terms of understanding the perceptions,” Quinabandal said.

Furthermore, Pronstoller noted that the media and archives have the power to revive forgotten narratives, allowing the youth to engage with them to recount the events.

“You [younger generations] may not be there but ang daming resibo [about the EDSA Revolution] na dinidigitize na... Keep on sharing the truth and keep on telling the stories,” the drag queen said. 

The event titled “Revisiting People Power through Film, Archives, and Dialogue" was organized by the UST Journalism Society in partnership with independent media production company Probe Productions Inc.