Behind the scene: The NextUp’s event preparation.

PREPARATION and good planning is the key for a successful event. Upon witnessing the NextUp event organized by iAcademy and RepublicAsia, has it ever crossed your mind on how this event had been assembled?  

iAcademy and RepublicAsia had held their “Lead Like a Pro” campaign last May—where they tackled the various topics regarding Data Science and the Social Media Algorithm, New Media, Content Creation, and Online Entrepreneurship. 

In the case of iAcademy and RepublicAsia’s NextUp, the event dives deep into the conversation concerning the importance of media literacy amongst its media users. It delves into the world of digital media where students are given tips and lectures in order to excel in online journalism. 

NextUp is an event dedicated to aspiring journalists and students who are interested in working in the media industry. Journalists and broadcasters such as TV5’s Gretchen Ho, and GMA’s Susan Enriquez, and Howie Severino were also invited to speak at the event. 

Right after the event, RepublicAsia had interviewed iAcademy’s COO–Raquel Perez Wong regarding the planning, organizing, and the struggles they’ve encountered while executing the event.

According to her, the origin of this event’s execution was due to iAcademy’s purpose. “We are building partnerships that would deliver good training for our students, not just through the delivery of textbooks or classroom preparations.” 

Raquel Perez Wong had also stated that exposing them (the students) to the industry trends and practice will help them ingest the demands that the industry has to offer.

“We are really exposing them to the industry trends and practices so that they will be able to digest these demands and be industry relevant not just upon graduation.”  

The event of NextUp may have been executed greatly but in terms of challenges and struggles—there is no such thing as avoidable. 

While planning for the event, she had shared the struggle of having to find the right speakers to talk for the event. “The challenge is selecting who would be the subject matter expert and of course, making sure that whatever they’ll discuss with our students and the public would be of value that would be insightful and that would inspire them on how they can move forward in this new era of digital world.” 

Most people nowadays value the modern and digital aspect of media. We may be leaning more on the side of digital but in terms of the principles of journalism–the traditional concept of it will always stay relevant. 

Despite iAcademy–being known for embracing the use of modern and digital media, Raquel Perez Wong claims that they are still teaching the traditional values and principles of journalism. 

“Before we jump into entertaining this new space for digital news, we have to acknowledge what traditional practice still works and on how we can use those wisdoms and those values. It’s always about putting our own values into a new perspective.” 

Planning such a big event is not easy but according to Raquel Perez Wong, she claimed that the event’s outcome is great despite the challenges they’ve encountered. “The event is great, because it brought up more questions–which is good because it means that there is a conversation.” She stated. “It’s good because there’s more to discuss and to learn.” she added.