Vancouver, B.C.
May is the Month of World Press Freedom Day
Mildred German
Unceded Territories – May is the month when the World Press Freedom Day is celebrated, on May 3 to be exact. This year, The United Nations’ May 3 World Press Freedom Day’s theme is “Information as a Public Good”.
This theme, according to the United Nations website, “serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind.”
This theme strongly highlights the importance of the whole media team in producing timely, truthful, and breaking news, including writers, producers, hosts, editors, audio technicians, and more.
“A Free Press is One of the Pillars of Democracy.” -Nelson Mandela
With the growing technology, doors have opened for more ways to communicate. There are many social platforms, and more media outlets existing than before. From newswriting, radio broadcasting, podcasting, and documentaries, the venues for communication seem endless.
However, attacks against critical writers, artists, and journalists are rampant. Fascists subdue press freedom and such attacks on human rights are used to perpetuate their power and agendas.
Cases of extrajudicial killings of journalists remain a concerning issue, such as in the many cases of attacks and killings. Attacks against Filipino journalists still concern human rights bodies around the globe.
The Philippines ranks 138th out of 180 countries according to international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders in its latest report.
https://news.tv5.com.ph/top-stories/read/press-freedom-watchdog-flags-journalists-killin gs-and-harassment-in-the-philippines-amid-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR0u01Bdrk5vwwqdFE 3BWdHWS3uNYYjHNnb9Nbrx_sHEyVTrAEPGBhU1Thg
With the Philippines being dubbed as one of the most dangerous places to work for journalists, Filipino journalists continue to experience worsening attacks in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, the power of the media remains.
JORDAN LAXAMANA A DEDICATED TECHNICAL SUPPORT VOLUNTEER
Each live or pre-recorded show relies on the skills and talents of technicians and technical support providers to produce and distribute finished materials.
From operating the dashboard, controlling volume levels, air time managing, cuts, and editing, are necessary media tasks taken care of by technical support. This is particularly true in the operation of the long-running Filipino radio program, Jeepney Cafe, on 100.5FM Vancouver’s Coop Radio.
Filipino-Canadian Jordan Laxamana is one of the long-time technical support hands of 100.5FM Vancouver’s Coop Radio. “Kuya Jordan”, as he is referred to by many, helps and volunteers with the radio station’s long-running Filipino radio program, Jeepney Cafe.
Laxamana’s volunteering and dedication in serving the Filipino community through media spans over a decade. He started volunteering with Vancouver’s Coop Radio in his youth in 2008, when he was an active member of Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada / Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC/FCYA), the Filipino youth group based in the Kalayaan Centre in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES). This youth group was one of the founding collectives of Tinig ng Masa radio program in Vancouver’s Coop Radio.
COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
“It was part of volunteering for the community. I always had a bit of an interest in sound studios, voice work, and using soundboards,” Laxamana, a manager in a bicycle repair shop, shared on what made him interested in radio broadcasting and technical support.
With 13 years of dedication in volunteering with Vancouver’s Coop Radio, Laxamana has seen the Filipino radio program Tinig Ng Masa transition, thrive, grow and multiply as different collectives participate in the the long-running Filipino radio show, Jeepney Cafe.
It is this kind of dedication which Laxamana shows that keeps independent radio shows and media such as Jeepney Cafe sustain its weekly radio shows running by providing technical support.
JEEPNEY CAFE ON VANCOUVER’S COOP RADIO
Jeepney Cafe is a public radio program dedicated to talking about issues that concern and interest Filipinos.
Formerly Tinig Ng Masa, the now long-running Jeepney Cafe radio program, now includes different community organizations and collectives running different genres of podcasts, live interviews, and broadcasting. These shows include Pinoy Rainbow, Land Is Life, Kahit Saan Pa Man, Balikbayan Mixtape, and The Occasional Detour.
Jeepney Cafe airs Saturdays at 5pm PST on 100.5FM Vancouver’s Coop Radio, a non-profit and member-run radio station based in the Vancouver DTES currently celebrating its 46 years in operation. Archives of past shows including Jeepney Cafe’s are available in the website,http://www.coopradio.org. Jeepney Cafe is also accessible via livestream programming through the Coop Radio’s website.