Inspiring change through integrity
Metamorphosis has been the constant state of the media industry for the past few decades.
Driven by the unprecedented accessibility of information, the democratization of content creation, and the shift in consumer preferences, media companies have been forced to evolve in order to adapt to changing consumer preferences. Gone are the days when individuals relied solely on newspapers, radio, and television for news and entertainment. The rise of the internet has ushered in an era of instantaneous access to information and a plethora of digital platforms for content consumption.
This evolution shows no signs of slowing down. As new technologies emerge and consumer behaviors evolve, media companies must be nimble, adaptable, and forward-thinking to remain relevant and successful.
Only those organizations that can navigate the ever-changing landscape and embrace the opportunities presented by digital transformation will be able to thrive in the media industry of the future.
The PhilSTAR Media Group aims to champion that which has been the core values of the company since its foundation: the pursuit of truth for the betterment of the nation.
As the most prominent print media company in the Philippines, The PhilSTAR Media Group (PMG) feels this challenge acutely—and so far, it has largely met with success.
In recent years, PMG has been able to establish digital products to supplement its print services in ways that are consistent with the organization’s primary emphasis on journalistic ethics and nation-building despite the enormous hurdles posed by the pandemic.
This year, as the world moves past the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, PMG’s goal is to promote advocacy-based efforts that do more than just provide information, but attempt to spark movement toward positive change.
To coincide with the company’s flagship newspaper The Philippine STAR’s 37th anniversary, PMG aims to champion that which has been the core values of the company since its foundation: the pursuit of truth for the betterment of the nation.
Towards sustainability and inclusion
The effort is neither driven by spontaneity nor self-importance. Sustainability has long surpassed mere business trends but has become a crucial long-term strategy for businesses and industries.
Sustainability goes beyond being environmentally friendly and encompasses social and economic considerations as well. With increasing awareness about environmental issues and the need for responsible practices, sustainability has become a priority for consumers, investors, and governments alike.
PMG has aligned itself with the global vision of fostering positive impact across society, the environment, and the economy, uniting with partners and sponsors to “drive meaningful transformation and cultivate enlightened mindsets.” And it means to do so by empowering Filipinos across the country.
Meaningful initiatives such as Nakakalocal!, a groundbreaking advocacy program of the Group, offers invaluable support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the country.
Nakakalocal! acknowledges that MSMEs constitute the bulk of registered businesses in the country and generate over 60% of employment for Filipinos. The program served as a nationwide online initiative providing MSMEs with a platform to showcase products and business profiles.
It also offers valuable resources like skill-building opportunities, business and marketing insights, and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs through digital content and events aimed at guiding MSMEs to success.
PMG, through Nakakalocal!, has so far supported 36 handpicked MSMEs from diverse sectors valued at over P500,000. The success of the program has led to its second year of implementation and the unveiling of a roadmap for the years after.
Nakakalocal! is but one of PMG’s strategies to build an ecosystem driven by advocacy and nation-building, one where the media giant can not only generate revenues for the company, but create positive impact for Filipinos all over the country.
For the business community, the annual BusinessWorld Economic Forum continues to be platforms for significant and impactful conversations around the state of the Philippine economy.
Moreover, the widely-successful BusinessWorld Insights, initially conceived as a way for BusinessWorld to provide a platform to hold much-needed discussions about the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, has evolved into an important forum that gathers a diverse group of local and international experts to hold insightful conversations about our ever-changing world.
Meanwhile, SparkUp, BusinessWorld’s multimedia portal aimed at business-savvy millennials and the startup community, continues to reach out to the country’s future business leaders.
PhilSTAR L!fe, another digital initiative launched by PMG, was aimed in the other direction. It is designed to become PMG’s hub for news and lifestyle content. It met no less success, quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing news and lifestyle websites online garnering more than 18 million views per month, with a bigger than average engagement time of almost three minutes per viewer.
New opportunities
Looking forward into the future, PMG is also launching Multiverse.ph, a movement designed to onboard millions of Filipinos onto the Web 3.0 platform and prepare them for the shift through multimedia content featuring educational modules and events showcasing the potential of the new Internet.
Such programs include RaiseUp, a rebranding of the annual “Women of Today, Women of Tomorrow” event, which will showcase the message that gender plays no part in creating boundaries for opportunity through an on-ground forum. A series of multimedia stories will be launched alongside the event to champion not just women, but the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community as well.
Wais sa Kwarta will be another event, managed by Pilipino Star Ngayon, that will take online financial forums on-ground with greater participation from partnered local government units. The goal is to reach more individuals, families, MSMEs, and communities and educate them on personal finance management.
Other initiatives such as the subscription-based BWorldX will be launched, with the intention of creating a digital platform to house all its multimedia products and content, including copies of the print newspaper with industry reports and features, the BusinessWorld In-Depth magazine issues, B-Side podcast episodes, and recordings of past BusinessWorld Insights and BusinessWorld Economic Forum sessions, among other exclusives.
Apart from launching a monthly supplement geared towards news items on sustainability, The Philippine STAR, alongside its sister companies in the Group, will partner with likeminded businesses and support events that create a tangible impact to Filipinos under “Project KaLIKHAsan: Creative Solutions for a Sustainable Future.”
This effort will culminate in a forum in 2024 that will bring together thought leaders and startups that are striving towards providing sustainable solutions for a better future.
To cap it off, kicking off its 37th-anniversary celebration, PMG will hold the Truth Festival, which will advocate for seeking the truth in an era of misinformation and fake news.
The event will also serve as the launchpad for the release of an e-paper app called Philstar GO as one of the tools Filipinos can use to separate credible information from falsehoods. Simultaneously, PMG will be sponsoring events that teach students critical thinking and journalistic skills.
Through empowerment, education, and engagement, PMG aims to become more than a faceless media conglomerate, but an active participant in the country’s continuous march towards progress, building on the core values of journalism, but maintaining its reputation as a champion of truth, integrity, and patriotism.