Former Star man unites the media in Iloilo

ILOILO City, Philippines — “We can only fulfil our mandate as the Fourth Estate once we are united.”

Former Philippine Star shipping editor Rommel Ynion expressed this as he urged the mediaman of Iloilo to unite and promote developmental journalism in Western Visayas.

Recently elected as president of the Iloilo Press Club, Ynion, who is chairman and publisher of local newspaper The News Today, said it is his dream to unite Iloilo’s media and usher a revival of idealistic journalism not only in the province but the entire region.

“Iloilo is the birthplace of the country’s most illustrious journalist, Graciano Lopez Jaena. We owe it to his memory to have the best and most vibrant media industry in the region,”

Under his stewardship, Ynion said he will try to address first the basic needs of local media practitioners, initiating drastic reforms “for the good of our brothers and sisters in the profession.”

“We can’t address the higher needs, if we can’t address the basic needs first. It’s hard to talk of unity if we are starving. Only then we can address unity,” he said.

He noted the “malnourished salaries” of media men in Iloilo. He said he will try to convince employers of local media outlets to increase the salaries of their employees.

Also, Ynion said he will establish a legal department to help media men defend themselves from harassment by government officials whom they criticize.

“Libel cases are being filed against media men to harass them. And, (media men) do not have the money to pay for their lawyers,” he said.

Aside from this, Ynion said he plans to initiate a housing program, medical insurance, and medical assistance for the Iloilo media.

The 41-year-old businessman earlier committed to complete the Iloilo Press Club Building which former IPC started more than a decade ago. The building already has a foundation and some posts but has remained unfinished due to lack of funds.

The Iloilo Press Club is the oldest association of media men in the country.

Ynion said that once finished, the Iloilo Press Club building will symbolize “the unity and solidarity of the media people here.”

For the first time in history, Iloilo’s top media leaders converged recently to show support for the Iloilo Press Club. Among them was Panay News publisher Danny Fajardo who suggested the election of new set of officers, something the club has never had in the last five years.