The Department of Development Journalism (DDJ), in partnership with the DEVC 80 (Communication and Society) class Section G, sponsored a seminar titled “EXPOSED: Facing the Pressures of Journalism in the Philippines” on September 9 at the College of Development Communication Lecture Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños from 1pm-4pm.

The seminar featured Ms. Marites Vitug, editor at large of Rappler and Chair of the Board of Newsbreak / Public Trust Media Group, Inc.  She talked about her experiences as a journalist covering the Supreme Court for a long time.

A communication student from the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Calamba, Laguna participates in the open forum session after the talk of Ms. Vitug.

More than 200 participants attended the seminar including students and faculty from Laguna State Polytechnic University (Siniloan), Colegio de Los Baños, Lyceum of the Philippines University (Calamba), First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Batangas), and Calamba Bayside National High School.

Books written by Ms. Vitug namely: Hour Before Dawn: The Fall and Uncertain Rise of the Philippine Supreme Court; Shadow of Doubt: Probing the Supreme Court; and Our Rights, Our Victories: Landmark Cases in the Supreme Court were made available on that day.  A book signing followed immediately after the seminar.

Ms. Vitug writes her personal message on one of her books during the book signing session.

A multi-awarded journalist, Ms. Vitug is a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos Award (in the field of journalism). In 1986-1987, she was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. She also took postgraduate studies in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.