GABBY LOPEZ OPENS ABS-CBN'S 7TH PINOY MEDIA CONGRESS FOR STUDENTS

PRESS RELEASE:

ABS-CBN execs & industry experts talk about media convergence for social responsibility
GABBY LOPEZ OPENS ABS-CBN'S 7TH PINOY MEDIA CONGRESS FOR STUDENTS

ABS-CBN chairman and CEO Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III will open this year’s Pinoy Media Congress (PMC) that brings together top-caliber ABS-CBN executives, industry experts, and almost 1,000 students and academicians of mass communications and journalism from all over the country in a two-day summit on Thursday (March 1) and Friday (March 2) at the Blessed Antonio Varona Gymnasium, Colegio De San Juan De Letran.

Now on its 7th year, ABS-CBN's Pinoy Media Congress will be engaging the future media practitioners in discussion of current issues and case studies on media and communications, specifically on the convergence of media for social responsibility.

ABS-CBN executives and subject matter experts such as digital terrestrial TV marketing head Miguel Mercado will talk about the exciting future of television as it goes digital, while ABS-CBN news and current affairs head Ging Reyes will explain media convergence in news.  As Star Cinema concept development group head Enrico Santos will tell the delegates how Philippine cinema can be socially responsible, ABS-CBN head of creative communications Robert Labayen will discuss how to connect with the Filipino viewers via advocacy plugs.

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. managing director Gina Lopez will speak about advocacies that respond to people's needs. ABS-CBN Manila radio division head Peter Musngi will share how radio responded to the changes in media technology, while regional network group head Jerry Bennett will present the case study about 'Choose Philippines.' March Ventosa, head of Studio 23 and Cable Channel and Print Media Group (CCPMG) will tackle the emerging market trends; customer business development head Vivian Tin will help the delegates understand the Filipino audience more; and TV entertainment production head Linggit Tan will share what kinds of TV entertainment that Filipinos want.

Industry officials and experts who will be speaking at the event include Kantar Media general manager Gabriel Buluran who will present the current Philippine media landscape and how Filipinos consume media. Leo Jasareno of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will tackle how new media can be used to mobilize people in supporting a cause. PIA director general Atty. Jose Fabia will share about 'weather watch,’ Campaigns chair Yoly Ong will discuss emerging market trends, and MTRCB board member Atty. Eugenio Villareal and KBP president Ruperto Nicdao will both discuss how their groups are protecting the audience through media monitoring.

Mounted by ABS-CBN, in partnership with the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), the Pinoy Media Congress won Awards of Excellence from the Philippine Quill Awards given by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines in 2007 and the Anvil Awards given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines in 2008.