A lot of things happened in the Philippine media this 2023. As the year comes to a close, Telum Media looks back on the biggest moves, news, and updates within the country's journalism landscape. We have seen significant moves, relocations, and key structural changes at a time when the use of artificial intelligence and Web 3.0 is on the rise. Here is a rundown of some of the major news in the Philippine media over the past year:

Media updates

• The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines activated its journalist safety hotline, (63) 956 749 9134.
•  Metro Manila-based freelance journalists launched the Filipino Freelance Journalists' Guild, which envisions freelancing in the Philippines as being more favourable to the plight of Filipino freelancers.
• One News' flagship primetime news programme, The Big Story, expanded to a full-hour newscast.
• The Philippine Star has moved to a brand-new office in Sucat, Parañaque City after 37 years in Port Area in Manila.
• ABS-CBN Corporation announced the closure of DZMM TeleRadyo, which pioneered the fusion of radio and television technology in 2007.

New media launches

• DWPM Radyo 360, a radio station under an agreement between ABS-CBN Corporation and Prime Media Holdings, Inc, was launched. 
• Billboard Philippines officially announced its maiden issue having two covers with artists, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and SB19.
• PAGEONE Online Network is working with Filipino chef Myke Tatung for Simpol.ph, a website featuring recipes, lifestyle, and travel content.
• ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs relaunched Patrol ng Pilipino, a spin-off from the original 2010 current affairs show of the network. The digital initiative involves journalists contributing short-form vertical videos covering general news, sports, entertainment, and more.
• YugaTech launched YugaAuto, a subsite designed to be a source of honest reviews and news on the Philippine automotive industry.

Journos who wrote 30

• Jose Rodriguez T. Señase, a Filipino journalist based in Cambodia, passed away. He was a Deputy Sports Editor at Khmer Times and a former board member of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia.
• Veteran journalist and press freedom advocate Luis Teodoro died on 13^th March 2023. Luis was a former educator and the Deputy Director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. He penned a political column for BusinessWorld called Vantage Point.
• Long-serving Entertainment Reporter Mario Dumaual passed away on 5^th July. Mario's editorial career spanned more than four decades.
• Mike Enriquez, one of the pillars of the Philippine media, passed away after 54 years in journalism. His death was reported by his home network's flagship newscast, 24 Oras, which he anchored for about two decades.
• Lourdes "Deedee" Munson Siytangco, who was an Associate Editor and Columnist at Manila Bulletin, passed away at the age of 83.
• Veteran Columnist Conrado de Quiros passed away on 6^th November. He was 72. Conrado penned the long-time column “There’s the Rub” for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
• Seasoned Journalist and Columnist Rina Jimenez-David died on 12^th November. She was 68. David started at the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1988, penning her column "At Large" for almost three decades before she retired in 2021. 

Key media appointments

• Regional media outlets saw key leadership changes as Marchel Espina returned to SunStar Bacolod as Editor-in-Chief, Bobby Timonera was appointed as Editor-in-Chief at MindaNews, and The Freeman named Lucky Malicay as its newest Editor-in-Chief.
• 2023 is also a year of major appointments at ABS-CBN Corporation. Francis Toral is now the Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs. Karen Namora has been designated as Head of Current Affairs alongside Tonie Esperida as Head of Production Services; while Baroy Morga serves as Managing Director at ABS-CBN News Channel.
• Further, GMA Network elevated Oli Amoroso as Senior Vice President and Head of GMA Integrated News. Aileen Rae Perez was also promoted to Assistant Vice President / Deputy Head for Integrated News Social Media at GMA Integrated News.
• Crucial organisational reshaping also transpired amongst big media outlets. Beginning of an era at Rappler as Natashya Gutierrez takes over as company President; Ed Bartilad and Pinky Colmenares lead Manila Bulletin as Executive Editors; Thea Alberto-Masakayan assumed Deputy Editorial Director role at Summit Media; SmartParenting.com.ph welcomed Ronna Capili Bonifacio as Editor-in-Chief; and Marco Sumayao began duties as Editorial Director at adobo magazine.
• Rounding up some key media appointments this year are Sarah Mae Tejares who manages Tech Times as Editor-in-Chief; Franco Reyes is now Head of Current Affairs and Public Service at TeleRadyo Serbisyo; Christa I. De La Cruz geared for the Associate Editor role at SPOT.ph; and the designation of Jayvee Fernandez as Technology Editor of The Philippine Star.

Career moves

• After more than three decades with ABS-CBN, veteran journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon marked her TV comeback, joining CNN Philippines via a new profile feature show titled Usapang Bilyonaryo. 
• Seasoned broadcaster Noli de Castro returned to TV Patrol as an Anchor after he withdrew his Senate bid during the 2022 Philippine elections. Broadcast personality Korina Sanchez is also back on ABS-CBN Corporation as Host / Line Producer of her news magazine and lifestyle programme, Rated Korina.
• Jervi "KaladKaren" Li made her story as the first transgender News Anchor for a mainstream media outlet in the Philippines, anchoring for Frontline Pilipinas.
• Veteran broadcast journalist Emil Sumangil officially joined the GMA Network’s primetime news programme, 24 Oras.
• Iejo Ramos left the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a News Reporter and moved to Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Context newsroom as an Inclusive Economies Correspondent.
• Cathy Yang went back to television as the Programme Host of Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang on One News. Also, multi-awarded political scientist Richard Heydarian joined One News' Long Conversation weeknight belt as he hosts the programme, The View From Manila.
• Martin Andanar has joined CGTN English as News Anchor.

Hustle takes centre stage as the Philippine media industry gears up for 2024. Stay tuned to find out what the upcoming year has in store.

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