Slide1: Kabataan News Network: Using broadcast television in the Philippines To change the way young people are seen, And the way young people see themselves


Situation of Young People in the Philippines: Situation of Young People in the Philippines Philippines total population 85 million 30% of households below poverty line About 50% under 24 years old Age of sexual debut, use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs falling 4 million+ working children; hundreds of thousands (est.) in trafficking/prostitution


Situation of Young People in the Philippines: Situation of Young People in the Philippines 25% of the population aims for immigration Adolescent depression, alienation increasing Islamist and Communist armed insurgencies unabated; attracting youth HIV/AIDS epidemic “only a matter of time”


UNICEF Adolescent Development and Participation Approach: UNICEF Adolescent Development and Participation Approach Adolescence a prime opportunity in the human life span to break cycle of poverty Young people are assets, not liabilities Young people have unique and pressing needs that must be met urgently Providing a voice for youth in decision making is a fundamental human right


Adolescent Participation: Adolescent Participation CRC: “children have right to express their opinions on issues that affect them” “Connectedness” to family, institutions, schools a critical component of emotional/social development Youth participation increasingly seen as essential safeguard for youth development Narratives of young people emphasize importance of “being heard”


KNN Goals: KNN Goals Harness the power of broadcast television for social change Change the way youth are seen and valued in society Create powerful national platform for youth participation Empower youth to speak out, ask questions, investigate Create youth to youth forum for communication (to address HIV etc) Connect generation of youth with process of national development through journalism


DV technology revolution: DV technology revolution Cost of broadcast quality camera Time to learn pro video camera 1-2 years 1-2 weeks US $20,000 US $700 1990 2005


The Show: The Show 12 KNN bureaus covering all regions, main ethnic groups, minorities, income levels Over 100 13-20 year old youth plan, film, interview, script, report and narrate TV news segments Adults edit and package the programme KNN half hour show on third major network 52 weeks of the year Extensive training regimen with professional producers


The Show: The Show TV news magazine format Bureaus shoot, report and “file” stories from all regions Adult facilitators guide and help but do not dictate content! KNN comes across as entertaining and informative, NOT EDUCATIONAL! Awareness and learning is embedded Result is fresh, unpredictable and alternative


KNN Bureau Locations: KNN Bureau Locations Bureaus formed in 6-2003: Mountain Province Quezon City (NCR) Capiz province Cebu City Davao City Zamboanga del Sur Province Bureaus formed in 12-2003 Manila City Camarines Norte Province North Cotabato Province Bureaus formed in 4-2004 Baguio City Negros Oriental Province Sarangani Province


Hart’s Ladder Youth Participation: Hart’s Ladder Youth Participation


KNN Results: KNN Results Kids have proved they can handle nationally broadcast TV production Weekly metro Manila audience ranges from 40,000 to 150,000 Lively internet correspondence between reporters and audience is growing 40 half hour episodes; over 200 video news stories Selected stories on Nickelodeon 2003-2005 Segments now air on prime time news


What do young reporters say?: What do young reporters say? Vary wide range of themes: from surfing to child pornography Three broad categories: 1. “my life/my community,” 2. adolescent development, 3. child rights (particularly violations) Muslim youth from Mindanao and indigenous communities very active


Sample Story List: Working Child Fisherman SPED: Mainstreaming hearing impaired students Durian: A famous fruit with a strange smell. Working student: Student who supports her family Family Living in a cemetery: Focus on the child. “Boom na Boom Jeepneys”: The fad of loud music in jeepneys. Gap Farm: A resort for families and children. Horse Fighting: Cruelty to animals. Sample Story List


Sample Story List: Carcar Shoe Industry: Household shoe making Should stars be allowed to run for office? Badjao children: Indigenous children adjust to urban life. Stone and Can: A famous children’s game Uncle Bill: policeman former child offender RTC-Branch 22: Child friendly courts Teen Zone: A youth Internet café/reproductive health. What is HIV/AIDS exactly? Butterfly Garden and Sanctuary Sample Story List


Problems Encountered: Problems Encountered Difficult to measure impact on audience precisely Volunteer youth as producers of national b’cast at times an unreliable partnership Journalism is very risky in the Philippines: highest rate of journalist assassination Need to promote the show


Future Directions: Future Directions Show funded by CIDA through 2007 Need to secure commercial viability by 2008 Strengthen KNN as network of Life Skills peer educators Build capacity of older reporters for investigative reporting


National Broadcast Presence: KNN started airing weekly in Philippines: June 2004 26 new episodes / year Saturday 10:am, Tuesday 4:pm on ABC5 Sunday 6:pm on NBN4 KNN vignettes on Nickelodeon 3-6 times each day National Broadcast Presence


Slide19: Kabataan News Network: Using broadcast television in the Philippines To change the way young people are seen, And the way young people see themselves