Communication – ellen tordesillas

The danger of eliminating anonymity in social media

Published by Ellen on December 19, 2021

A fake Facebook report quoting Sen. Francis Pangilinan fact-checked by VERA Filkes.

One of the attributes of Facebook (now called Meta) that attracted many to the platform, which is now the biggest in the universe (with 2.89 billion users), is anonymity.

One can be Maria even if she is Juana, or be a 35-year-old engineer from China even if he is a 25-year-old writer from the Philippines.

Officially, Facebook has a real-name policy, which requires users to “provide the name they use in real life.” In practice, however, those who are creative can go around that rule and hide their real identity.

Anonymity is not evil. It can be used for something good. However, as in all things in this world, malevolent minds are using it to do vicious acts while escaping accountability.

Beware of spoof/fake Facebook accounts

Published by Ellen on June 7, 2020

Malevolent forces are busy at work in Facebook.

I was informed by my niece yesterday about a fake “Ellen Tordesillas” Facebook account.

I checked it out and there it was: just my name. No photo, no post.

Training how to teach fact-checking

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2018

VERA Files has been doing fact-checking training all over the country sharing the knowledge and skills we have learned to sift what is true from the falsehoods that abound in social media.

Our campus tours have been educational for us as we have seen young people, social media savvy yet so vulnerable to the evils of the phenomenal medium. We are invigorated to see that many of them value truthfulness and we are encouraged by their enthusiasm to learn how to fight lies which now come under the banner of “fake news.”

Future teachers at the University of Antique. Photo by Allyssa Marie C. Villeza.

Two weeks ago we were at the University of Antique in the town of Sibalom with 300 education students. Since the participants were future teachers we tweaked our training from “How to fact-check” to “How to teach fact-checking.”

We divided the participants into ten groups and gave the each group suggested statements to fact check. We told them that they can also choose their own subject to fact check. After a 30- minute mini-conference among themselves, they each made their presentation.

The result was fantastic. Using various teaching tools, they made fact-checking fun.

Explaining Duterte

Published by Ellen on July 22, 2017

The president of the Philippines is the country’s chief executive, head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
His powers are awesome, so his words carry the weight of his powerful position.

In his one year in office, President Duterte has shocked, stunned, and bewildered not only Filipinos but also the international community with his pronouncements.

A political observer said that to keep his sanity, he usually waits a day or two before deciding whether to take seriously or dismissing Duterte’s statements.

St Scholastica’s Hildegarde awards

Published by Ellen on March 9, 2014

Hildegarde Award for Outstanding Achievement in Print and Online Journalism. — Hildegarde Award for Outstanding Achievement in Print and Online Journalism for VERA Files.

I learned something new last Saturday when I went to St. Scholastica’s College to receive the award together with my colleague, Luz Rimban, for VERA Files.

St. Scholastica cited VERA Files’s stories about victims of Yolanda typhoon being vulnerable to human traffickers. We thank St Scho for recognizing our contribution to the fight against human trafficking which is a modern day slavery.

The wonderful thing about St Scho’s Hildegarde Awards for Women and Media Communication is that, the awardees were not asked to apply. The Mass Communications students monitored all year round TV, Radio, Print and Online. After a thorough screening faculty members and students decide on the awardees.

Who is Hildegarde?

Reconstructing blog again

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2013

This blog is being reconstructed as it was accidentally deleted Tuesday morning. In the old posts, the pictures and video were lost. I’ll try to…

Mar to DOTC diffuses battle for proximity in Malacañang

Published by Ellen on June 7, 2011

Related article: Drilon congratulates “Samar group” with Roxas appointment as DOTC secretary (Article in comments)

Aquino appoints Mar to DOTC — PNoy appoints Mar to DOTC. Photo from Inquirer.

Mar Roxas is now the new secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications replacing Jose “Ping” de Jesus, whose resignation is a subject of numerous speculations.

The Manila Times’ Dante Ang, in an information-filled article complete with findings of the Commission on Audit of irregularities in a radar project, said de Jesus did not resign. He was actually fired.

We have yet to know the whole truth about what happened at the DOTC amidst the spins being given fed to the media.
In announcing the appointment of Roxas, Aquino admitted that Roxas was originally slated to take a position based in Malacañang.“Sabi ko sa kanya kelangan sana kita sa headquarters pero may sunog sa frontlines…. Puwede ba sumugod ka muna doon? ”