Development Communication Society (DEVCOM SOC)

As many Filipinos resorted to the online global village amidst the physical restraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, instances of hate speech, propaganda, and violent extremism also permeated across social networks. The phenomenon, coupled with brewing security issues in the virtual space, posed risks to netizens who lack media literacy and skills. Mandated in the core of the Development Communication Society, the I Am Media Literate (IMIL) 2021 was launched as a region-wide conference to strengthen the media literacy and skills of teachers and students across Northern Mindanao. From hate speech among users to misleading propaganda, the project was designed to introduce or reinforce the role of the youth and faculty members in the peacemaking process by enhancing their literacy skills on media and information and fostering responsible media consumerism or production.

With over a hundred participants from the region, the conference staged talks from active civic campaign leaders on freedom of expression, media literacy, digital peace campaigning, and communication media laws. The large event also became a platform to convene a community of administrators, instructors, teachers, and young senior high school to college students who were involved in media communications as a study, profession, or advocacy. It was a pioneering event in the organization and based on the sheer size and diversity of the participants, responsible media literacy and skills were best channeled through the educators and the youth from all over the region. Hence, the conference successfully welcomed a wide network of socially conscientious communicators in the peacemaking process as a tool for nation-building–in line with the organization’s constitution and field advocacy. While the light of peace endures in the region, DEVCOM SOC is also planning to continue the project annually.