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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Google Philippines/CANVAS) |
In celebration of National Language Month (Buwan Ng Wika), Google and the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) have released the Cebuano language edition of #YOUTHink magazine to highlight the importance of local language diversity in battling misinformation. Filled with helpful articles aimed at engaging young readers and addressing misinformation, the 42-page local youth-oriented magazine comes in a fun and creative zine-style format and covers several topics such as the types of misinformation and their negative effects, why context matters, how to identify a fact from an opinion, and how to avoid falling for fake information among others.
Written by CANVAS Founder and Executive Director Gigo Alampay who is a lawyer specializing in information and communications technology (ICT) law and policy, #YOUTHink was first published by CANVAS in English in January 2021 as commissioned and funded by Google in the Philippines. The tech company conceived the title of the magazine to put the emphasis on two elements: the "youth" which is a vital force in addressing misinformation and "critical thinking" which is necessary to exercise before believing, posting and sharing any information online. The magazine was translated into Cebuano by teachers and translators Hannah Aranas and Xi Zuq.
“Google is committed to helping fight misinformation. We believe in the vital role of producing locally relevant learning materials to achieve this goal, while we continue to take down harmful content and raise authoritative information on our platforms. People find it easier to understand content which uses a language that is local to them, that is why together with CANVAS, we published a Cebuano version of #YOUTHink," said Google Philippines Communications and Public Affairs Head Mervin Wenke. Mervin added, “This National Language Month (Buwan ng Wika) and beyond, we need to take a more inclusive approach and use local languages so more people, especially those going online for the first time or from vulnerable communities, can participate in the discussion and avoid falling for disinformation or misinformation. With Cebuano as one of the country’s major languages spoken by more than 9 million people, we hope that more Filipinos will benefit from this initiative.”
Similar to the first edition published in January 2021, Google provided funding support for the development, design and publication of the Cebuano magazine. Initially, 5,000 copies will be distributed for free to schools, communities and non-government organizations (NGOs) across the National Capital Region (NCR). The magazine includes letters and essays from several experts including former COMELEC commissioner Atty. Luie Guia; infectious diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana; scientist, and radio and TV speaker Dr. Reina Reyes; Ateneo de Manila University assistant professor of Philosophy Dr. Jacklyn Cleofas; and UP professor specializing in research on political communication and news media effects Dr. Clarissa David. Gigo shared, “Along with the ongoing pandemic, there is also an ‘infodemic’ happening which endangers the lives of Filipinos. Publishing the media and information literacy magazine #YOUTHink in one of the country’s major local languages like Cebuano will help address this problem. Now more than ever, we also need the power of the youth–the target reader of the magazine–to uphold digital responsibility and critical thinking online.”
