1. Making EDUCATION Newsworthy

5. Some stats on education coverage in Philippine newspapers
Content Analysis
10 Manila-based broadsheets
Dec 1-14, 2006
All news and feature stories
Opinion pieces excluded

6. Do education stories make it to the news?
Out of 12,803 reports, 87 were on education.
This means:
Education stories accounted for less than 1% % to be exact – of all reports
Education stories average 1 story per month

7. Do education stories make it to the front page?

8. Is the education beat then…
MINOR?
SMALL
MISSING?
DEAD?

9. What are the stories like?
Straight news
News briefs
Press releases

10. Who was the source of the story?
Mostly from government agencies
Mostly statements from the education secretary
Many press releases

11. Who wrote the story?
Many from provincial correspondents/community reporters
40% carried no byline or tagline (and are presumably press releases)

12. What do some sources say about education reporters?
They don’t know the beat.
They’re not interested in the beat.
They treat education like a police or beat where there are many breaking stories.
They lack patience in understanding issues.
They misinterpret data (and get source into trouble).

13. In desperation, some education officials and other sources…
Have requested newsrooms for a change of reporter
Have offered stories to non-beat reporters who they think can better report the issue(s)
Have consulted other journalists on how to whet interest in the beat
Have contemplated on running media training on education

14. What do editors say?
Many say their papers do not regard any beat, including education, as either major or minor
“Covering these (supposedly minor) beats comprehensively helps us fulfill the basic information requirements of our readers.”

15. Do editors’ actions match words?
Not really…
Many news organizations assign their education reporter to at most three other beats (police, LGU, health, science)
Many news organizations fail to assign reporters to cover the entire education sector: preprimary and basic, vocational-technical, and tertiary

16. THE CHALLENGE How can we get more education stories published/aired?
How can we get more education stories to land in the front page or among the top stories?

17. A few suggestions Know the beat like the palm of your hand.
Stop treating education as a seasonal beat. Stories happen year-round.
Make the most of “seasons.” Walk the unbeaten path.
Don’t run with the pack.
Don’t be contented just because you’ve filed your news story. Go beyond Layer 1 Reporting.

18. The Story and its Layers of Truth
Source-originated material
Handouts, press conferences, speeches, statements II
Spontaneous Events
Reportorial Enterprise
Verifying material, background, reporter’s observations
III
Interpretation and
Explanation
Significance, impact, causes, consequences, analysis

20. A few suggestions See both the tree(s) and the forest.
Read even the most boring report.
Learn to simplify the language.
Learn to read and personalize statistics.
Look for nontraditional sources of information. International agencies are valuable sources.

21. A few suggestions
Lobby for a special section on education, and make sure you regularly contribute stories.
23 of 87 (26%) education stories appeared in the special section of two broadsheets.
Look for the human face: anecdotes, examples, illustrations.
Be observant.

23. You might come across so many stories that they can fill a book.

24. A few suggestions When writing: The devil is in the detail
Use a variety of storytelling devices

25. Your story can make a difference!
Raise public awareness
Shake people out of apathy
Spur people to action
Contribute to policy reform

26. Textbook Procurement Reforms
Year
Item
2000
2002
2003
Bid opening
11/2002
11/2003
Delivery period
24 months
20 months
July – Nov. 2003
July – Nov. 2004
Total # of books
33.5 M
37.0 M
13.6 M
Value
P 1,252.2M
P 1,300 M
P 660.2M
Ave. Price (simple)
P 90.00
P 37.38
P 35.14
P 48.54
Remarks
See Yvonne Chua, PCIJ
60 GSM
70 GSM
Includes Lesson Guides

27. Textbook Watch

28. Salamat! (Thank you!)