MSU-TCTO, IDEALS Partner to Boost Media Safety in BARMM

MSU-TCTO, IDEALS Partner to Boost Media Safety in BARMM

MSU-TCTO, through the Office of Information, Press and Publications (OIPP) and the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the Advancing Media Safety through Policies, Legal Service, and Initiatives for Press Freedom in the BARMM (AMPLIFY BARMM).

IDEALS, a non-government organization that aims to uphold human dignity, facilitate access to justice, and assert rights with the poor and marginalized, formally turned over the media equipment set to the university to set up a "community studio."

Held today, December 5, at the Sabdani Conference Hall, Vice Chancellor Murphy Unaid, representing Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, and Executive Director Edgardo Ligon signed for MSU-TCTO and the IDEALS, respectively.

IDEALS Project Officer Maria Raizza Renella Bello, OIPP Director Abduljim Hassan II, and his staff, Ms. Ayesha Anuddin, witnessed the signing ceremony. Ms. Lenie Doll Tomial, the Acting Station Manager of MSU-TCTO Nutriskwela Radyo Kasannangan, conducted a radio station tour for the guests following the formal signing.

The IDEALS' AMPLIFY project aims to improve the skills of local journalists and media practitioners in various provinces, such as Lanao, Maguindanao, Cotabato, North Cotabato, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. The project focuses explicitly on ensuring journalists' physical and legal safety, increasing access to legal services and proactive responses, and advancing an enabling policy environment for a thriving, free, and independent press in the BARMM provinces. In collaboration with the Bangsamoro Press Corps (BPC), the project is also geared towards ensuring a democratic and fair 2025 Regional Elections.

As the community studio host, MSU-TCTO, through the OIPP, will oversee and manage equipment borrowing by professional journalists and student media practitioners in Tawi-Tawi. Increasing access to essential media tools is crucial to enhance the community's coverage of the 2025 Regional Elections and other news events.

This partnership will provide local journalists with vital resources and legal support, fostering a safer and more independent press environment. It marks a significant advancement in promoting media safety and press freedom in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

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