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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

• 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

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

Hart’s Ladder Youth Participation

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?

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Kabataan News Network:Using broadcast television in the Philippines

To change the way young people are seen,

And the way young people see themselves