In celebration of its 71st Founding Anniversary, White & Blue, the official student publication of Saint Louis University (SLU), held TechnoSapiens: Ang Makabagong Anyo ng Pamamahayag sa Dihital na Siglo on 5 July 2025, at the Fr. Theophile Vebist, CICM Hall.
Anchored on the digital evolution of journalism, the event aimed to tread the history of White & Blue in its legacy of being a voice to the Louisian community from analog to digital.
Three resource speakers were invited: Jacque Manabat, independent journalist, content creator, and former multi-platform journalist, producer, and anchor for ABS-CBN, who explored national journalism in the digital age; Mia Magdalena Fokno, co-founder of Mountain Beacon and correspondent for Rappler, who delved into local journalism in the digital age; and Kasima Rose Mendoza of the SLU School of Accounting, Management, Computing, and Information Studies (SAMCIS), who discussed artificial intelligence integration in journalism.
During Manabat’s discussion, she emphasized the importance of making journalism sustainable and closing the gap between journalism and social media, noting that “the most important gadget is in your pocket.” She also highlighted the need to build credibility and add value to readers’ lives as a way to maintain their engagement with content.
Echoing these points, Fokno stressed that as lies spread faster than truth, it is important to “not compromise moral code” and to “keep integrity intact even as platforms evolve.”
Further, in this era where technology is rapidly evolving, Manabat shared that 80% of surveyed journalists reported utilizing AI tools in their work, with nearly half incorporating them into their daily routines, saying that “AI is not the enemy, but disinformation is.”
Building on this, Fokno and Mendoza stated that AI can be used to assist with journalistic tasks but assert the importance of not letting it replace one’s identity and role as a journalist.
Mendoza further explained that AI will not go away; it will continually shape the world through automation, increased productivity, and new skill demands. To protect journalism careers, she urged to focus on uniquely human strengths, pursue training in AI and data tools, establish ethical guidelines for AI use in newsrooms, collaborate rather than compete with AI, and advocate for human-centric news policies.
Participants of the workshop include student publications from different schools of SLU: SCHEMA from SAMCIS, Stellaris from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), and The Buttress from the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA). Additionally, the Communication Society, the organization of STELA’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication students, also took part.
By fostering responsible use of technology and promoting media literacy, SLU, through White & Blue, empowers student journalists to uphold integrity and contribute to sustainable, inclusive communities. Such advocacy is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 4 (Quality Education). (Article by Penelope Dela Cruz | Photos by Mond Baldonadi, Yonex Cerna, Cassey Chulipa, Romar Lopez, Micko Nieves, & Rouize Pancho)
