The birth of a Gen Z newsroom

MILLENNIAL digital disruptor Bran Reluao took a bold step when he entered the competitive media industry in 2022 as the youngest chief executive officer (CEO) of a cutting-edge digital news and media company.

This organization is introduced as Republicasia Media Inc., a digital platform run by members of Generation Z for their fellow Gen Zs. 

Like its CEO, republicasia is undaunted in reshaping the norms in the industry by redefining traditional news with the use of digital platforms and integration of civic journalism.

It has been a year since the digital platform served young individuals, particularly Gen Zs, with real, powerful and life-altering stories. It has also been bold in addressing pressing matters concerning the youth while offering a fresh perspective that resonates with its young audiences.

As republicasia celebrates its first anniversary, let’s take a look back from how this Gen Z-dominated newsroom was conceptualized to how it fearlessly penetrated the media industry as a ground-breaking digital platform that amplifies the voice of the young generation.

Establishing the headquarters

Before its official launching, the key people behind republicasia had been tirelessly working together since September 2022 to live up to its vision of becoming a leading platform for the young generation. 

At that time, it was not the headquarters in Intramuros, Manila that had witnessed all their hard work in establishing the digital platform. Everything started and formed in a rented space at a restaurant on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

“We started doing our office duties sa isang restaurant. For six weeks, we’ve been doing that while waiting for the construction,” Deputy Operations Officer Wella Ricafrente recounted.

They later transferred to another private restaurant located in Taft, Manila.

“It’s a long table, then nandun lahat yung staff. Minsan, sa simula pa lang nagugulat yung mga young [employee] na bakit merong nagsisigawan. Pero kasi in a newsroom—newsroom kasi the usual setup is a war room,” she said. “Minsan yung mga bata nagugulat sila pero kasi normal yun sa traditional setup na newsroom na minsan akala mo nag-aaway pero actually very healthy yon kasi nagde-debate sila over something which is more important na subject.”

The headquarters inside the historic walled city was built in October 2022. When she first saw it, Ricafrente said it was “very promising.”

Coming from a traditional news organization for two decades, Ricafrente immediately noticed the young and futuristic vibes that the office radiates.

It displays a large workstation, enough to occupy 50 staff members. At the center is the workstation of the editor-in-chief. There is also an amphitheater where staff members hold meetings.

Another unique thing about this Gen Z newsroom is its coffee bar and gender-neutral restroom.

“Very promising siya kasi ang ganda — the position of the tables, we can easily get connected with everyone else. Pipihit ka lang, andyan na. Makakausap mo na lahat,” the DOO said.

Forming the team

Ricafrente is among the first individuals to join republicasia, along with other veteran journalists who came from big media networks.

These veterans joined forces to guide the young team of republicasia in telling and sharing the stories and interests of young individuals.

“We, the veteran journalists, were formed to be the guide of the young generation who wanted to tell their stories. That’s actually the mission of republicasia because anyone can tell their story,” she said.

She added, “Pero the wisdom of and having that responsibility of bringing the right story to the people that will actually inspire the new generation, that’s something else.”

To effectively and efficiently deliver transformative stories to its audience, Ricafrente shared that there is a particular set of values they looked for in a young individual. Among these is their strong commitment to journalistic integrity.

“When we were hiring the first set of employees, we sought after the people with journalistic integrity, but it’s not just that,” she shared.

She went on, “It’s a digital company, of course, we wanted to create stories with impact, pero in doing the process, hindi lang pala yon. Kailangan pala innovative and adaptable talaga.”

Learning from one another

Among the young individuals who met these requirements are multimedia artist John Dale Lacdao, 26, and production specialist John Lester Calulo, 24.

Working along with the veterans and young staff members gave Lacdao and Calulo the opportunity to sharpen their creative skills as they are fueled by the expertise of the veterans in the media field and the fresh perspective that each Gen Z employee brings to the table.

“Sa school lang din talaga ako nag-eedit and nagsho-shoot kaya masasabi kong mas nahubog din ako kahit papano dito sa work na ‘to, sa field na ‘to. And mas napalawak yung kaalaman ko pagdating sa production, pre-prod and post-prod,” Calulo said.

Lacdao, on the other hand, said he was able to explore more his creative side in telling stories through graphics.

“Dito kasi may freedom kami. Freestyle kami sa designs dito,” he said.

But it is not only the Gen Z staff that learns inside the newsroom. With their new and unconventional point of view, Ricafrente said that even the veterans learn something from these young individuals.

“More than teaching the Gen Zs, mas natuturuan kami. Their story is actually very interesting kasi I think hindi lang kasi yan one-way, two-way siya, yung adaptability. We discipline them, at the same time, they also teach us the way ng communication with our target audience,” she emphasized.

While these stories are told in a modernistic way, Ricafrente assured that these still uphold journalistic ethics and standards that newsrooms practice up to this day.

“We always want to make sure that whenever we share their story is that we uphold that commitment and passion to tell an accurate part of the story because we know we have that responsibility and commitment,” she said.

Becoming trailblazers of digital media

With this set of people who share the same goals of becoming trailblazers of digital media, republicasia bravely stormed the media industry on November 5, 2022. 

This launching became a bridge that links the young generation with the general public and encourages their own kind to speak about their untold stories. The hundreds of stories that republicasia produced in a year through articles and vertical videos are just a few narratives that people must know; more of these are yet to be told.

“Mas lalo pa naming gagandahan, gagalingan. Mas papababawin yung mga malalalim na kwento na kailangan niyong malaman and mas bibigyan pa namin kayo ng time para mas ma-grab niyo yung kwento sa pamamagitan ng vertical videos,” Calulo said.

Like other organizations, republicasia has gone through many ups and downs. Big changes also happened within the organization that just made republicasia stronger.

“From the time that we started, marami na yung nabago and, of course, we shouldn’t stop growing and learning. I think we still have a long way to go,” Ricafrente said.

The DOO believes that the staff members still have a lot of things to adapt and learn about. The young team needs to be trained more to hone their own skills, while the veterans have to adapt more innovations, said Ricafrente.

“My wish for republicasia is to become trailblazers of digital media talaga,” she said.

“We will never stop, marami pang kailangang ma-achieve ang republicasia,” she added. 

After all, it’s been only a year since republicasia joined the media industry. There’s a bright future waiting for this young digital platform.