Converge upholds women empowerment with STET, rejoins celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week

As part of its continued support to initiatives to empower women, leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has again engaged in the STET Media Scope Forum in Cebu, rejoining the women members of the press in the celebration of this year’s Cebu Press Freedom Week.

Organized by STET, an organization of active and retired women journalists in Cebu, the forum focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Community Journalism, held on September 20, 2024.

During the event, Converge Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Jay-Anne Encarnado delivered a message on behalf of the company which has stood with STET in its women empowerment advocacy for the second year.

“We at Converge champion women empowerment. Inspired by our President and Co-Founder  Maria Grace Uy, who is one formidable woman, Converge not only seeks to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality, but we want to support a stronger voice for women. We believe that STET shares this advocacy where we hope to see women heard and celebrated, and not intimidated or silenced,” she said.

Also sharing some words regarding the forum’s point of discussion, Encarnado highlighted the adoption of AI in the company’s operations and reminded the attendees of some considerations, especially for its use in newsrooms.

“Being a former journalist myself, I am truly amazed at how technology has transformed the way we report the news. We recognize that while these new technologies promote efficiency and open up opportunities, there are also risks which we should be aware of, especially as journalists,” she added.

The talk on AI was then led by Harvard University 2024 Nieman Fellow and former GMA News Online editor-in-chief Jaemark Tordecilla.

“AI, as a tool, can help in content creation, but it can make us really lazy and before we know it, when we are trying to beat the deadline, we forget to abide by the rules for journalists. Let’s not surrender our brains, our critical thinking, our energy and stamina, our professional ethics,” Dr. Lelani Echaves-Paredes of STET highlighted in her closing remarks.

Several members of the Cebu press, as well as aspiring student journalists from different universities and colleges in Cebu, were present during the forum.