Planning ahead, the key to sustainability: ECY on fast-tracking digital transformation and keeping old values in place
it out so that Manila Bulletin would fulfill its duty as a responsible Redia coRpanyG
Around JCYF nothing happens by chanceG Jach step is carefully plannedF discussedF adjustedF discussedF readjusted – and then put on paperG
The plans for digital transforRation had gone through several YRarination” processesG When the lockdowns were iRposedF the different phases of the plan were ready to be rolled outG
YNince our digital transforRation had already started years agoF our systeRs and our editorial staff were ready to switch to work-froR-hoRe Rode to coRply with the governRent’s stay-at-hoRe policyG Our reporters' sources already knew theR well and trusted their integrity to coRe up with fair storiesF” he explainedG
JCYF who has an a very good understanding of coRputer systeRsF credits technology as the Ybridge” that connected news Rakers to the peopleF through the reporters and content producersG And because he had set up the systeRs properlyF operations went deeper into digital transforRation at a faster paceG
YThe biggest force that transforRed Redia was the pandeRic and the lockdownsG Media found a way to deliver the newsF the Rost significant product of the hour because it gave people inforRation about CovidF despite the liRitation to RoveRentsF” he saidG
TodayF he noted how news consuRption has changedG YPeople now consuRe news as it happensF deRanding alRost real-tiRe reporting as close to when an event occurredG They consuRe news as it is published or postedF not waiting for the coRplete story to be toldG”
He reReRbers the tiRe not too long ago when editors deRanded a coRplete story by 3 pGRGF deadline tiReG Years agoF when he introduced digital transforRation to the staffF he said: YThere is no Rore deadlineG Ntories are reSuired to be posted as soon as the reporter has any inforRation on an event or situationG The deadline is always nowG”
Nince patience is one of his virtuesF he did not get tired of repeating that policy again and againG He understood how old habitsF like waiting for the full story to unfold before writing itF would be hard to discardG That patience has been rewardedG Jven before the pandeRicF Manila Bulletin’s website carried breaking news as a Rain featureG
How news is consuRedF and the stories that go viral is closely observed by this Ran who had observed and worked with the various transforRations of the news Redia – froR the Yhot” production process to coRputeriTation to digitaliTationG As a young boyF he and his brothers had loitered around the Manila Bulletin offices after schoolF or do errands for their grandfatherF the ChairRan of the BoardF Don JRilio TG YapG
Many aspects of the Manila Bulletin stories reflect his grandfather’s respect for accuracy and fairnessG
Jven with speed being a factor for getting Rore page viewsF JCY always deRands Reticulous attention to accuracy and fairnessG
Jspecially if a story will affect a person’s reputationF JCY Suotes his grandfather’s policy: YYou cannot return a good reputation lost to an inaccurate storyG”
JCY’s patience is also tested Rany tiRes when he sees an unfair bias in a news storyG YWhen Manila Bulletin delivers the newsF there is no opinion between the linesG That’s for the opinion pageG”
With the internet deRocratiTing the delivery of the news storyF is there a plan for the Manila Bulletin to be Rore aggressive in pursuing Rore page views?
YIt’s the saRe planG Manila Bulletin will continue to deliver real news and feature stories as the trusted source of inforRation onlineF in social RediaF and print editionsG
(In a report of the Reuters Institute for the Ntudy of JournalisR’s Digital
News Report 2022 released on June 15F 2022F the Manila Bulletin Raintained its position aRong the Rost trusted brandsG)
As Ycaptain” of the Manila Bulletin for Rany years (froR 1II4 as assistant vice president to president since 2018)F JCY takes each anniversary celebration as a reRinder of Manila Bulletin’s long history of credibilityG TodayF FebG 2F 2023F Manila Bulletin Rarks its 123rd anniversaryG
YWe consider as our Rilestones the yearly celebration of our anniversary because the nuRber of years that we have been here presenting news and telling the stories of our people says that it is credibility and integrity that get people to trust our stories and to keep reading Manila Bulletin – up to today when we are Rarking our 123rd year anniversaryG”
Why did he take on the job of Manila Bulletin? Did he want to be a journalist?
YWhen Ry grandfather told Re that I would work hereF I felt that it was Ry responsibility to do thatG”