Media Release
MCAD Platforms: Covering Disasters
With Alexis Romero and John Javellana
18 October 2013, 3-5 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD)
Contact Person: Mary Ann Josette Pernia
Contact Details : mcad@benilde.edu.ph, 5366752 loc 105
On Oct 18, Friday, 3-5 pm,the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design will have Alexis Romero of Philippine Star and photojournalist John Javellana as resource speakers for MCAD Platforms. In MCAD Platforms: Covering Disasters, they will speak of their experiences covering disasters as well as on policies and ethics of media regarding coverage of disasters, and regarding the safety of persons covering the said disasters.
Mr. Romero obtained his Journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 2006. He was a reporter for the daily business paper BusinessWorld before moving to the Philippine Star in 2010.. Mr. Romero has been covering the defense beats for the Philippine Star since 2010. He also serves as a reliever for the Malacanang beat. From time to time, Mr. Romero is assigned to cover economic and political events, allowing him to use his skills in business reporting. John Javellana (b. 1984, Philippines) is a photojournalist based in Manila. A graduate of Communication Arts from the De La Salle University, he started as a a stringer for the Reuters News Agency and became one of the youngest photojournalists to work for the wire agencies in the country and has covered virtually every major news event up to this day.
“The media can make a real difference in the way people think and act about disasters,” stated the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. In the Yogyakarta declaration on disaster risk reduction in Asia and the Pacific 2012, the media statement declared that “media should take disaster risk reduction as a serious threat to development and as such commit to: 1) Provide balanced, accurate, timely coverage of disaster risks before, during and after disasters ; 2) Prioritize the dissemination of accurate information on natural hazards and disaster risk
reduction and dedicate more time and space to report on the causes of disasters and what can be done to prevent disasters ; and 3) Network with media peers and journalist associations to convey the message of the Declaration in order to strengthen the resilience of communities”
The MCAD Platform series focuses on various practices in engaging with contemporary art, activating spaces and audiences for such engagements locally, within the region and internationally. Apart from creating awareness of the work done by others, this MCAD Platform series reiterates the place of contemporary art in creating opportunities for imaginatively seeing the present and the future, and participating in their construction. The MCAD is at the ground floor of the School of Design and Art campus of the College of Saint Benilde. For more information pls call 5366752 loc 105 or email mcad@benilde.edu.ph