Organization name: Initiative for International dialogue (Philippines) /  www.iidnet.org

Media Focal Point: Mrs.Ruby Rose Lora and Mr. Vicotr Sapar / gus@iidnet.org  

The Southeast Asia Media Focal Point project in 2009 builds upon the strategic accomplishments achieved in last year's implementation. Most significant was the discussion, at varied levels, with alternative media networks in the region aimed at exploring ways to involve them in the MFP project . These are the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA) and the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network. GPPAC-SEA member-organizations also had a dialogue and orientation on effective engagement with media with the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative, publisher of Mindanews.com. They are a member of the Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project. The Regional Steering Group meeting in February 2009 re-affirmed the creation of an Awareness-raising Working Group to oversee GPPAC-SEA's communications work, including the MFP.  Each national initiator appoints a representative to this Working Group.   

Objectives / goals for 2009 

• Enhance public awareness on the need to develop a culture of conflict prevention and peace building.
•   MFP in Southeast Asia Press Alliance will endeavor to firm up and sustain relationships with media networks to broaden the discourse on peace journalism.
•  Implement and extend and appropriate use of social media. 

Activities for 2009 

Public activities:

• Development and implementation activities for the International Day of Peace on the 21st of September. We are planning some different media events in the region's capitals. We will also create a new poster to promote the event, that will be disseminated throughout the region. We are also planning to create a "blog action day". The blog will be a collection of contributions from various bloggers all over the region, focusing on the importance of conflict prevention and peacebuilding and the urgency of creating a culture of Peace. The blog will also include videos and podcasts and will run for the whole month of September. We are also planning to spread the news of the commemoration of the International Day of Peace throughout the radio. We will also seek slots for blogtalkradio.com to collect talk shows on the peace issue in the region. Finally, the GPPAC - SEA website will complement and tie all the online communication and diffusion of our plans.

Relationship building – with media and public:

• Increased interaction between GPPAC and Southeast Asia members with the media community in the region. A long term partnership will be pursued with the Southeast Asia Press Allaince,  Peace and Conflict Journalism Network and other media groups, including school-based.
• Orientation meetings with other media groups and individuals and regular communications with key national and regional media contacts ad opinion makers.
•  Establishment of a social network via Ning.com that will facilitate regular interaction among peace journalists and like-minded individuals and groups. The social network will also serve as and alternative media channel for peacebuilding and conflict prevention stories, videos and photos, particularly those which don’t get distributed through mainstream media.
• Improvement of GPPAC online presence. The GPPAC-SEA website at builingpeace.net will be transformed to a blog using Wordpress to benefit from distribution channels targeted at blogs and facilitate easier collaborative content updating by members.