The director of the School of Communication of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) He warns that the College of Journalists is going through the most serious crisis since its foundation and calls to reorganize it, transparent its management and modernize it to attract new generations.
Institutionality in crisis
Oscar Peña considers that the new directive of the Dominican College of Journalists (CDP) must “order the house” before any other action. In his opinion, the institution has lost strength in its institutionality, is eroded in legitimacy and economically weakened.
“It is necessary for the CDP to accounts and be audited, not as questioning, but as a certification that it is working well,” he says. For him, the first step is to strengthen the internal organisms that the law provides, so that the guild can have the ability to defend its members externally.
The initial mission of the school, dignifying professional practice, guaranteeing social welfare and promoting training Remember Peña, has blurred. Today the guild faces a dilemma: to renew or die.
Reorganization
To recover social incidence, Peña raises two essential tasks: to reorganize the CDP, with transparency and democratization in decisions and modernize it to adapt to the new media scenario.
“The digital ecology is very different from that of 30 years ago. The CDP must make more flexible and attract young journalists who do not feel represented by the guild,” he warns.
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In its criteria, the school has lost its course and has been diluted in unionism and trade unionism, forgetting its true role: the defense of the profession. His proposal is to return to the center of the mission, with emphasis on ethics and differentiation between academically formed journalists and simple opinioners or influencers.
Digital journalism
The interviewee understands that social networks offer an opportunity to strengthen professional identity. “Today more than ever the school has a niche: differentiate the collegiate journalist from the irresponsible opinion,” he emphasizes.
It suggests that the CDP drives Fact-Checking programs, diplomas and masters that provide tools to detect false news in text, audio, photo and video.
Remember that there were already successful experiences with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT) to start a doctorate with the APEC University (UNAPEC) and develop a master’s degree in strategic communication and public relations taught by the UASD Communication School, which has seven cohorts or groups of teacher. In collaboration with other institutions, this last academic unit has taught workshops promoted by Google, the International Organization of Migration (IIM) and the Damn Foundation on data verification and detection of false news. In his opinion, the CDP should institutionalize and give continuity to these alliances, expand them and ensure that each new generation of journalists has access to these tools to strengthen credibility and professional rigor.
Training and memory
For Peña, the CDP must also produce knowledge: publish investigations, rescue trajectories from the National Journalism Awards and create reference collections. “That would inspire young people and help reconnect with their base,” he says.
Another contribution that should not be lost, he says, is the law of creation of the school, although it requires update. “The rule establishes that 0.5 % of advertising must go to the CDP, but that has never been fulfilled. Even so, that structure gives protection to professional practice,” he explains.
Message to New Directive
As a recommendation to the new incumbents of the school, the veteran teacher urges: “Let reorganize it and make it more transparent. That they democratize decision making and develop a development and recovery plan. The CDP is the sine qua non instrument of journalists. S in plan there is no future.”
